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
From Classroom to Conservation: Sydney Brown Finds Her Place in the Field September 21, 2026 - From classroom lessons to fieldwork, Sydney Brown is gaining hands-on experience in bird monitoring, research, and community science.
Geology underfoot: Public invited to join field trips focused on Rhode Island landscape September 16, 2026 - URI is hosting the 117th annual New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, Oct. 2-4, offering attendees the chance to get outside and experience geology in the field. 
Designing With Communities September 14, 2026 - This summer, URI landscape architecture students worked with Rhode Island communities to imagine new possibilities for parks, public spaces, and places to gather.
Building Ocean Equity at URI: Q&A with Delia Fuller September 10, 2026 - Through the CELS Summer Fellowship Program, Delia Fuller, a senior studying marine affairs at the University of Rhode Island, has been exploring what ocean equity means and how it can be incorporated into the URI community. Under the mentorship of Dr. Yoshitaka Ota, professor of marine affairs, she has been researching ocean equity, reviewing academic literature and documentaries, and laying the groundwork for an Ocean Equity Club at URI.
