Congratulations to Dr. Bangbo Yan (Principal Investigator) and his team members, Dr. Rui Zhang, Dr. Lei Li, Dr. Chris Groves, and Dr. Jasmine Terzic for receiving a $ 346,506 National Science Foundation MRI award for a new X-ray diffractometer. This award is central to several research projects at Western Kentucky University (WKU). In addition, collaboration with faculty at three other universities (California Baptist University, Lipscomb University, and the University of Findlay) expands and provides access to a broader personnel group. This advanced equipment plays a crucial role in addressing fundamental inquiries in the fields of chemistry, physics, and geology that demand accurate and precise measurements of the three-dimensional structures of crystalline compounds and minerals. Further, it offers valuable training and research opportunities for undergraduate students at WKU, high school students at regional high schools, and Gatton Academy students who are gifted students pursuing their high school courses in a residential setting on the WKU campus.