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
Core matters: URI geoscientist weighs in on critical minerals July 31, 2025 - Geoscience professor Dawn Cardace is teaching students in her classes about vital minerals and materials to help them better understand discussions in the news.
Caribbean coral reefs’ chronic decline could get a boost from proactive assisted gene flow — if allowed July 30, 2025 - URI’s Carlos Prada is part of an international scientific team calling for action and regulatory reform to allow the technique to prevent further reef decline and damage
Frank Golet, Professor Emeritus of Natural Resources Science, Chosen for Lifetime Achievement Award July 25, 2025 - Celebrated for his lifelong dedication to wetland science, unmatched mentorship, and an unwavering commitment to conservation, Frank Golet, Professor Emeritus of the University of Rhode Island's Department of Natural Resources Science, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Wetland Scientists earlier this month.
New graduate certificate in cell and molecular biology aims to fill needs in field while offering career advancement opportunities July 24, 2025 - URI's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology has recently added a new graduate certificate to its offerings. The program offers students training in cell and molecular biology, biotechnology, and medical laboratory science.
