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
The fear factor: How blue crab fishing could reshape a salt marsh October 13, 2026 - URI graduate student Maja Nielsen's novel research examines how fishing-driven shifts in blue crab populations are changing the way ribbed mussels respond to predators — with consequences that could ripple through new England salt marsh ecosystems.
Getting a jump on the spotted lanternfly October 12, 2026 - Now is the time to tackle pesky pest’s egg masses before they hatch
Bat beat: URI wildlife researcher Patrick Bailey answers questions about fall’s favorite winged mammal October 8, 2026 - All eight of Rhode Island's bat species are now listed as species of greatest conservation need. URI researcher Patrick Bailey explains why they matter and how to help.
URI lecture series explores regenerative landscapes through science, planning, and design October 6, 2026 - The University of Rhode Island’s 34th annual Landscape Architecture Lecture Series will bring three nationally recognized practitioners and scholars to campus this fall to explore how science, planning, and design can work together to create more resilient and regenerative landscapes.
