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
URI’s Plant Diagnostic Laboratory Earns Prestigious Accreditation September 10, 2025 - The designation is a significant achievement for URI, recognizing the lab’s commitment to high-standard plant disease diagnostics and serving as a resource that benefits the University and the wider Rhode Island agricultural community.
Metcalf Institute creates connection between science and journalism with Metcalf Ocean Nexus Academy September 10, 2025 - A new journalism fellowship created by the University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute and Ocean Nexus, in collaboration with the The Uproot Project, took place this summer. The innovative program supports journalists exploring the deep connection between ocean issues and social justice. 
Passion into Impact: Jessie Holtham’s ‘06 Grassroots Shell Recycling Movement on Martha’s Vineyard September 5, 2025 - Jessie (Kanozak) Holtham ‘06, an aquaculture and fisheries science graduate, began a grassroots shell recovery effort on Martha's Vineyard. 
College of the Environment and Life Sciences names Christopher Lane as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies September 4, 2025 - Lane has previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences where he led a productive research program. Most recently he served as Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College, bringing valuable experience to the position during the evolving research funding landscape
