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
Applied research is at the core of what we do. As a land-grant and sea-grant university, our researchers and students work closely with communities to share knowledge and apply it to everyday lives.
Our programsNews
Learn about septic systems during annual SepticSmart week September 21, 2023 - URI and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management celebrate 2023 SepticSmart week with workshops for homeowners.
URI initiative will invest $200K to support translational research on microplastic pollution September 21, 2023 - The inaugural seed grant program will fund six collaborative projects to ‘address plastic pollution on a global scale.’
New URI symposium to showcase maritime programs and career opportunities September 13, 2023 - On September 29, the Sea Services Symposium will open to URI, CCRI and high school students.
International biodiversity organization chronicles global threat from invasive alien species September 12, 2023 - The global assessment team includes URI Professor Laura Meyerson.