At the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, you’ll deepen your understanding of the living world and your place within it.
The work that happens here is rooted in our land- and sea-grant mission, and connected to the needs of the local, regional, and global communities. Our faculty researchers work collaboratively across disciplines, drawing from a broad, inclusive field of human knowledge to make critical discoveries within their fields. URI’s core research facilities and specialized labs offer the latest technologies that will enable you to gather field data, synthesize vast amounts of information, and develop solutions to real world challenges. Whether you are interested in urban food systems; protecting marine wildlife; understanding what makes an organism adapt and an ecosystem thrive; or assisting policy makers in the shift towards renewable energy and sustainable natural resource management, you’ll find your place here.
URI Cooperative Extension
Education and engagement with Rhode Island communities is at the core of what we do. As a land-grant and sea-grant university, our mission is to ensure URI provides education and applied research that helps communities and improves the lives of Rhode Islanders.
learn moreNews and Stories
Community support comes together to seed new silvopasture at URI’s Peckham Farm March 26, 2026 - A team of faculty and staff is looking forward to growing its tree research capacity, while nourishing the animals who live on campus, with a recent donation from the Indiana company Tree Pro of 1,500 tree protectors and the same number of wooden stakes. 
URI’s Ava Russell Heads to Harvard Arboretum for Plant Science Internship March 24, 2026 - URI junior Ava Russell, a double major in biology and plant science, was selected for the competitive DaRin Butz Internship. She will spend 10 weeks at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum studying plant development and evolution. 
URI’s Metcalf Institute kicks off 2026 Annual Public Lecture Series with environmental journalist and alum Meera Subramanian March 16, 2026 - Subramanian will join author and Metcalf alum Elizabeth Rush for conversation on April 2.
New environmental justice track brings new perspectives and methods to environmental science March 13, 2026 - Our Master of Environmental Science and Management program is responding to community needs with new environmental justice track. Kendall Moore, pictured, is leading the new track.
