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
Oxybarometry of Reduced Silicate Glasses: Using Multivariate Methods to Constrain Cr Oxidation States with Application to Lunar Glasses
Molly C. McCanta, M. Darby Dyar, Stephen R. Sutton, Sarah E. Roberts, Cai R. Ytsma; Oxybarometry of Reduced Silicate Glasses: Using Multivariate Methods to Constrain Cr Oxidation States with Application to Lunar Glasses. American Mineralogist 2025; doi: https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2024-9602
The fate of nitrogen in deep magma oceans
Mallick, Ekanshu, Kelsey Prissel, Kevin Righter, and Colin RM Jackson. “The fate of nitrogen in deep magma oceans.” Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 394 (2025): 298-318.
Continuous Evolution of Eu2+/Eu3+ Mixed Valency Driven by Pressure and Temperature
Mingyu Xu, Greeshma C. Jose, Mouyang Cheng, Cheng Peng, Jose L. Gonzalez Jimenez, Wenli Bi, Mingda Li, and Weiwei Xie, Continuous Evolution of Eu2+/Eu3+ Mixed Valency Driven by Pressure and Temperature, The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 2025 129 (9), 2371-2377. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c08660
Complex Adsorption Behavior of Neodymium and Ytterbium on Structurally-Distinct Alumina Surfaces
Fang, Yihang, Sang Soo Lee, Greg J. Ledingham, Joanne E. Stubbs, Peter J. Eng, and Jeffrey G. Catalano. “Complex Adsorption Behavior of Neodymium and Ytterbium on Structurally-Distinct Alumina Surfaces.” Environmental Science & Technology (2025).
Pressure-Driven Polar Orthorhombic to Tetragonal Phase Transition in Hafnia at Room Temperature
Janice L. Musfeldt, Sobhit Singh, Kevin A. Smith, Xianghan Xu, Sang-Wook Cheong, Zhenxian Liu, David Vanderbilt, Karin M. Rabe, Pressure-Driven...
Inhibition of Reaction Layer Formation on MgO(100) by Doping with Trace Amounts of Iron
Gabriela Camacho Meneses, Juliane Weber, Raphaël P. Hermann, Anna Wanhala, Joanne E. Stubbs, Peter J. Eng, Ke Yuan, Albina Y. Borisevich, Matthew G. Boebinger, Tingting Liu, Andrew G. Stack, and Jacquelyn N. Bracco, Inhibition of Reaction Layer Formation on MgO(100) by Doping with Trace Amounts of Iron, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C Article ASAP DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c06311
Science Highlights
Volatiles and Redox Along the East African Rift
Brounce, M., Scoggins, S., Fischer, T. P., Ford, H., & Byrnes, J. (2024). Volatiles and redox along the East African Rift. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 25, e2024GC011657.
Uranium oxidation states in zircon and other accessory phases
Shane K. Houchin, François L.H. Tissot, Mauricio Ibañez-Mejia, Matthew Newville, Antonio Lanzirotti, Frank Pavia, George Rossman, Uranium oxidation states in zircon and other accessory phases, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2024, ISSN 0016-7037
Latest Happenings
SEES Booth at GSA Conference
SEES had an exhibition booth at the GSA conference in Anaheim this year. Joanne Stubbs (Beamline...
South Side Science Festival 2024
GSE scientists Tim Officer and Stella Chariton get ready for the South Side Science Festival, Oct 5th
Research at GSE after APS-U featured in ANL Highlight
A new era of research comes into focus as the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade nears completion, GSE scientists anticipate the experimental possibilities.
Mark Rivers at the APS All-Hands Meeting
GSE scientist Mark Rivers presented Beamline Commissioning at Sector 13 at the APS All-Hands Meeting.