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
Bay to bayou: URI biologist to lead $4 million NSF grant to advance wetland restoration in Rhode Island and Louisiana September 2, 2026 - Dr. Ying Zhang, professor of cell and molecular biology, recently received a $4 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to co-lead a collaboration with Louisiana State University to improve coastal wetland management in both states.
Exploring How Coral Reef Habitat Loss Affects Fish: Q&A with Sofia Grabiel Butler September 1, 2026 - This summer, marine biology major Sofia Grabiel Butler traveled to Guana Island in the British Virgin Islands to investigate how coral reef habitat loss may be contributing to declines in fish populations.
From Penguins to Rabbits: URI Undergraduates Help Improve Success of Conservation Breeding Programs for Imperiled Species August 31, 2026 - From penguins to rabbits, URI students are helping give imperiled species a better chance at survival. Under the mentorship of URI's Justin Richard and in partnership with leading zoos and aquariums, these CELS Summer Research Fellows are contributing to conservation efforts that reach far beyond the classroom.
Protecting Fish from Wildfire Runoff: Q&A with Garfield Kwan August 28, 2026 - Dr. Garfield Kwan joins URI as an assistant professor of fish ecophysiology in the Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science. His research explores how fish respond to aquaculture, wildfire runoff, and future ocean conditions.
