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
Finding Her Roots: URI Plant Sciences Helped Kaylyn Wood Grow Her Passion June 2, 2026 - Through hands-on classes, greenhouse work, and research opportunities, Kaylyn Wood found a career path rooted in plants, wellness, and entrepreneurship. She's now double majoring in plant sciences and psychology with minors in entrepreneurship and cannabis studies. 
The hidden ecological role of Rhode Island’s historic stone walls June 1, 2026 - Supported by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, URI graduate student Madalyn Stoltz is investigating how stone walls contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in Rhode Island.
From URI to Medicine: Matthew Calestino ’94 Gives Back Through Scholarship and Teaching June 1, 2026 - Dr. Matthew Calestino ’94 credits his URI education with laying the foundation for a career in internal medicine. He now returns to URI to support future laboratory professionals and honor his family’s longstanding connection to healthcare education.
Of feathers and flu: Identifying data gaps in bird flu host dynamics to help conserve vulnerable species May 28, 2026 - URI professor Johanna Harvey’s research contributes to deeper understanding of avian influenza dynamics in U.S. wild bird species
