The second Joint HGS-HIRe (Helmholtz Graduate School for Hadron and Ion Research) and RS-APS (Research School of Advanced Photon Science) Lecture Week was held at Schloss Buchenau during November 16-20, 2014. The lecturers Alexandre Gumberidze (EMMI & GSI), Daniel Seipt (HI-Jena), Paul Neumayer (EMMI & GSI) and Ulf Zastrau (U Jena & LCLS) gave a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of "X-ray spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool in atomic and plasma physics". The lectures were complemented by student presentations dedicated to a deeper insight into selected topics.