The mission of SEES (Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science) is to advance research and education in synchrotron-based Earth and environmental science to better understand our planet from the atmosphere to the core, to address societally relevant problems, and to train the next generation of scientists. SEES is responsible for the management, operation, and development of multiple user facilities hosted at four DOE-operated US synchrotrons: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Advanced Light Source (ALS), National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).
2025 SEES-ISRD Joint Meeting
SEES and ISRD invite you to attend our annual meeting to be held jointly at the University of Chicago on August 11-13, 2025. Keynote speakers will discuss topics in rock and mineral deformation and rheological properties in Earth, and there will be a poster session with a broad scientific focus. All SEES and ISRD researchers are welcome and encouraged to attend. Click here to learn more.
Recent Publications
X-Ray Microtomography Measurements of Coevolving Particle Size and Shape
Li, Yang, Shubjot Singh, and Giuseppe Buscarnera. “X-Ray Microtomography Measurements of Coevolving Particle Size and Shape.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 151, no. 10 (2025): 04025110.
Intermediate oxidation products from pyrrhotite grains in natural waste rock: A synchrotron study using Fe K-edge XANES
Smith, Lianna JD, Dogan Paktunc, and David W. Blowes. “Intermediate oxidation products from pyrrhotite grains in natural waste rock: A synchrotron study using Fe K-edge XANES.” Applied Geochemistry (2025): 106501.
Applying EQTransformer to laboratory earthquakes: detecting and picking acoustic emissions with machine learning
Sheehan, J., Zhai, Q., Chuang, L.Y. Officer, T., Wang, Y., Zhu, L., Peng, Z., Applying EQTransformer to laboratory earthquakes: detecting and picking acoustic emissions with machine learning. Earth Planets Space 77, 116 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02237-2
Unraveling the Complex Features of the Seismic Scatterersin the Mid‐Lower Mantle Through Phase Transition of (Al, H)‐Bearing Stishovite
Yu, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, L., Zhang, X., Wang, D., Mao, Z., et al. (2025). Unraveling the complex features of the seismic scatterers in the mid‐lower mantle through phase transition of (Al, H)‐bearing stishovite. Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2024GL114146. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114146
Efficient up-conversion in CsPbBr3 nanocrystals via phonon-driven exciton-polaron formation
Abbas, A.S., Li, B.C., Schaller, R.D. et al. Efficient up-conversion in CsPbBr3 nanocrystals via phonon-driven exciton-polaron formation. Nat Commun 16, 5803 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60992-y
Structural mechanisms of pressure-induced isosymmetric second-order phase transitions
Zhong, Qifa, Jingui Xu, Dongzhou Zhang, Shanrong Zhang, Mengzeng Wu, Hailing Gu, Yi Zhou, and Dawei Fan. “Structural mechanisms of pressure-induced isosymmetric second-order phase transitions.” American Mineralogist 110, no. 7 (2025): 1072-1081.https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2024-9497
Science Highlights
X-Ray Microtomography Measurements of Coevolving Particle Size and Shape
Li, Yang, Shubjot Singh, and Giuseppe Buscarnera. “X-Ray Microtomography Measurements of Coevolving Particle Size and Shape.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 151, no. 10 (2025): 04025110.
Intermediate oxidation products from pyrrhotite grains in natural waste rock: A synchrotron study using Fe K-edge XANES
Smith, Lianna JD, Dogan Paktunc, and David W. Blowes. “Intermediate oxidation products from pyrrhotite grains in natural waste rock: A synchrotron study using Fe K-edge XANES.” Applied Geochemistry (2025): 106501.
Applying EQTransformer to laboratory earthquakes: detecting and picking acoustic emissions with machine learning
Sheehan, J., Zhai, Q., Chuang, L.Y. Officer, T., Wang, Y., Zhu, L., Peng, Z., Applying EQTransformer to laboratory earthquakes: detecting and picking acoustic emissions with machine learning. Earth Planets Space 77, 116 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02237-2
Unraveling the Complex Features of the Seismic Scatterersin the Mid‐Lower Mantle Through Phase Transition of (Al, H)‐Bearing Stishovite
Yu, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, L., Zhang, X., Wang, D., Mao, Z., et al. (2025). Unraveling the complex features of the seismic scatterers in the mid‐lower mantle through phase transition of (Al, H)‐bearing stishovite. Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2024GL114146. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114146
Plagioclase under compression: A path to diaplectic glass and maskelynite
Xie, Tianqi, Sean R. Shieh, Stella Chariton, Mauritz van Zyl, Ricardo D. Rodriguez, Vitali B. Prakapenka, and Dongzhou Zhang. “Plagioclase under compression: A path to diaplectic glass and maskelynite.” Science Advances 11, no. 25 (2025): eadv8231.
Equilibrium Fe isotope fractionation between olivine, pyroxene, spinel and MORB glass: Implications for mantle partial melting to generate MORBs
Nie, Nicole X., Anat Shahar, Peng Ni, Richard W. Carlson, Steven B. Shirey, Corliss K. Sio, Justin Y. Hu et al. "Equilibrium Fe isotope...
Latest Happenings
SEES Staff Host ACA 2025 Conference Tours at APS
As part of the American Crystallographic Association 2025 Conference, beamline staff led tours...
SEES Highlights at Goldschmidt 2025
SEES Scientists Dr. Kyounglim Kang (Advanced Light Source) and Dr. Roberto Colina-Ruiz (GSECARS...
2025 CONUSS/PHOENIX School Wrap-Up
Bringing together passionate learners and experts alike, our recent intensive three-day school,...
SEES Beamlines at the APS for 2025-3 Cycle
The Advanced Photon Source (APS) General User Proposal (GUP) call for the 2025-3 cycle will open...