Today is the start date for SEES: Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science. SEES has a new cooperative agreement with NSF to manage and enhance NSF EAR-supported beamline operations at four DOE synchrotron facilities: the Advanced Photon Source (APS), the Advanced Light Source (ALS), the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL). Importantly, SEES will continue operation of GSECARS and the former COMPRES beamlines that the Earth and environmental science community has relied on for more than two decades, which revolutionized the study of physical and chemical properties of Earth materials and associated natural processes. Additionally, this portfolio of beamlines will be augmented by new SEES support for synchrotron applications in environmental science, low temperature geochemistry, and rock deformation studies across the DOE facilities. Details of each of these new operations will be announced as they ramp up in the coming months. The planning and preparation for SEES benefited from selfless contributions from many in the Earth and environmental community, and we owe them many thanks for the effort they invested. This includes the Synchrotron Geoscience Steering Committee, who led the community-based development of the SEES proposal; the beamline scientists and staff at COMPRES and GSECARS; and many others in the synchrotron geoscience user community, who provided input into the priorities and scientific vision for the SEES organization. We look forward to working with the user community to continue providing the resources needed for leading Earth and environmental research, as well as development of the scientific workforce. Andy Campbell SEES Director University of Chicago