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).
2026 SEES-FORCE Joint Meeting
SEES and FORCE invite you to attend our annual meeting to be held jointly at the University of Chicago on August 10-12, 2026.
Facility Status and Upcoming Proposal Deadlines
Workshops
2026 SEES Multigrain Single Crystal Workshop
We are excited to announce the first ever SEES Multigrain Single Crystal Workshop, to be held at the University of Chicago on August 8-9, 2026, in conjunction with the 2026 SEES-FORCE Joint Meeting. In this workshop, SEES beamline scientists Stella Chariton, Vitali Prakapenka, and Dongzhou Zhang will cover the principles of single- and multigrain
Events Calendar
Science Highlights
Arsenic-cycling metabolism recorded in hot spring silica deposits
Slagter, Silvina, Kimberly Myers, Diego M. Guido, Bhoopesh Mishra, Thaïs Couasnon, Gernot Arp, Stefan V. Lalonde, and Mark A. Van Zuilen. Communications Earth & Environment (2026).
Mitigating lead bioaccessibility in metal (loid) s contaminated alkaline soils using soil amendments: Evaluating efficacy using in vitro bioaccessibility, sequential extraction, and synchrotron techniques
Wekumbura, Chandima, Ganga M. Hettiarachchi, William Hargrove, Qing Ma, Matthew Newville, Antonio Lanzirotti, and Christina Sobin. Journal of Hazardous Materials 497 (2025): 139742.
Complex redox histories of lunar pyroclastic beads revealed by spatially correlated chromium and Vanadium valences
Sutton, S. R., Lanzirotti, A., Newville, M., Dyar, M. D., McCanta, M., & the ANGSA Team (2026). Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 131, e2025JE009416.
Controls on iron‐redox state in martian magmas quantified by Mössbauer spectroscopy, colorimetric wet chemistry, and XANES spectroscopy
Aithala, S. P., R. A. Lange, and M. M. Hirschmann. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets 131, no. 3 (2026): e2025JE009148.
Events & Outreach
Cross-Facility Collaboration on Soft and Tender X-ray Microscopy
Beamline scientists from SEES, the Advanced Light Source (ALS), and the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) connected during SEES general user beamtime at COSMIC. They discussed coordination opportunities for the upcoming ALS-U dark time and future capabilities of the Soft X-ray Nanoprobe at NSLS-II. Left to right: Dr. Kyounglim
SEES Featured in Elements Magazine Triple Point Article
SEES Director Andrew Campbell recently authored a Triple Point article in Elements Magazine discussing the history and continued importance of community-driven synchrotron facilities for mineral physics research and user support. Read the full article: “Community-Driven Management of Synchrotron-Based Mineral Physics Facilities”