SEES Scientists Dr. Kyounglim Kang (Advanced Light Source) and Dr. Roberto Colina-Ruiz (GSECARS Beamline Scientist at National Synchrotron Light Source II) co-chaired a topical session at the recent Goldschmidt conference in Prague, Czech Republic. The session brought together scientists with diverse imaging and spectroscopy applications for Earth, environment, and planetary science research. In the session, Dr. Kang presented on marine iron colloids using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy, and Dr. Colina-Ruiz presented on redox transitions in wildfire ash studied with synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microprobe techniques. SEES-funded postdoctoral researcher Dr. Edwin Rivas Meraz and SEES co-PI Dr. Brandy Toner also presented on method developments for in situ X-ray microscopy and ptychography. Former SEES postdoc Dr. Sarick Matzen also participated in the session. The poster and oral sessions were well attended and featured active engagement with the audience.
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Oral session agenda: https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2025/meetingapp.cgi/Session/8154
Poster session agenda: https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2025/meetingapp.cgi/Session/8155
Session description: Micro and nanoscale imaging and spectroscopic analysis are critical for studying complex biogeochemical processes in fields of aquatic, terrestrial, and planetary sciences. Spatiotemporally sensitive measurements of microbial community dynamics, organo/microbe-mineral interfaces, and nanoscale mineral weathering processes in heterogeneous systems enable the decoupling of distinct biogeochemical reactions, allowing the investigation of relevant mechanisms.
This session aims to advance our knowledge of using innovative imaging and spectroscopic techniques, including confocal Raman microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, light-sheet fluorescence microscopy, and synchrotron-based techniques (e.g., Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM), X-ray Fluorescence Microprobe (XFM), ptychography, X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES)) to investigate biogeochemical reactions. We welcome contributions that: (1) utilize one or multiple imaging and spectroscopic techniques to study biogeochemical reactions; (2) employ novel experimental tools (e.g., microfluidics, correlative microscopy, in situ 3D imaging under cryo- or hydrated conditions, and bioreporters) to investigate microbial interactions; and (3) apply conventional and customized data analysis tools to interpret imaging results from across various analytical techniques.
This session is supported by the Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science (SEES) program funded by the National Science Foundation in the U.S., which aims to advance research and techniques that utilize synchrotron radiation facilities in Earth and Environmental studies.
