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
“Plant Sciences Is For The Doers” May 1, 2026 - Through hands-on learning in URI’s Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, Justin Levesque has found community, mentorship, and a lasting connection to the natural world.
Finding A Path by Following Passion April 30, 2026 - From switching majors to pursuing an array of opportunities on campus and studying abroad, Kate Zmich’s journey at URI shows that exploration–not certainty–is the key to discovering purpose.
Three URI students awarded prestigious National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships April 28, 2026 - Alexandra Elizabeth Sinno, who graduated from URI in December 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in marine biology, was among the 2,500 students chosen out of nearly 14,000 applicants.
URI forester offers tips on tree safety and protection for Arbor Day April 23, 2026 - As trees come into bloom across Rhode Island, URI’s resident forestry extension specialist Christopher Riely answers questions about local trees in time for Arbor Day on April 24. Riely is a certified forester and arborist in URI’s Department of Natural Resources Science.
