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).
Facility Status and Upcoming Proposal Deadlines
Workshops
2026 Soft and Tender X-ray Synchrotron Imaging and Spectroscopy Workshop
We are excited to announce the 2026 West Coast Soft and Tender X-ray Synchrotron Imaging and Spectroscopy Workshop for Earth and Environmental Sciences, which will be held at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource on November 17–19, 2026. Over three days, beamline scientists from the Advanced Light Source (ALS) and Stanford
Events Calendar
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Sun, Sep 20 - Sat, Sep 26
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Sun, Oct 11 - Wed, Oct 14
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Mon, Oct 12 - Fri, Oct 23
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Wed, Oct 21
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Tue, Nov 17 - Thu, Nov 19
Science Highlights
CaSiO3 Glass Under Pressure: Structural Evolution, Elastic Response, and Comparison with MgSiO3 and SiO2 Glasses
Ryu, Young Jay, Yanbin Wang, Tony Yu, Vitali B. Prakapenka, Stella Chariton, Peter Eng, Joanne E. Stubbs et al. American Mineralogist (2026), DOI : 10.2138/am-2026-10220
A laser heating diamond anvil cell system for high-pressure nuclear resonant scattering at 3-ID, APS
Cijin Zhou, Barbara Lavina, Thomas S. Toellner, Vitali B. Prakapenka, Stella Chariton, Dongzhou Zhang, Mark L. Rivers, Wolfgang Sturhahn, Jennifer M. Jackson, Jiyong Zhao. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 1 September 2026; 97 (9): 093901. DOI: 10.1063/5.0338437
Widespread Occurrence of Magnéli Phases in Wildland–Urban Interface Fire Ashes
Baalousha, Mohammed, Morgane Desmau, Roberto A. Colina-Ruiz, Antonio Lanzirotti, Sheryl A. Singerling, Michelle A. Stern, and Charles N. Alpers. Environmental Science & Technology 60, no. 14 (2026): 10982-10990.
Serpentine’s wet breakdown path and enhanced water flux in cold subduction zones
Sim, Heehyeon, Yoonah Bang, Huijeong Hwang, Nico Giordano, Dongzhou Zhang, Hyun Hwi Lee, Taeyeol Jeon, Robert Farla, Hanns-Peter Liermann, and Yongjae Lee. Nature Communications (2026), DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-75935-4
Events & Outreach
The First SEES Multigrain Workshop: More Grains, More Fun
SEES ran its first Multigrain Single Crystal Workshop at the University of Chicago on August 8-9, 2026, in conjunction with the 2026 SEES-FORCE Joint Meeting. Twenty-eight participants spent two days with SEES beamline scientists Stella Chariton, Vitali Prakapenka, and Dongzhou Zhang, covering the collection and analysis of single- and multigrain
SEES at Goldschmidt 2026
The SEES team had a great time connecting with geochemists at the Goldschmidt conference in Montréal, Québec. Program PI Andrew Campbell and Associate Director Emily Padston staffed the exhibition booth, introducing attendees to the SEES program and how synchrotron user facilities can support their research. During our “Talk to a