Events
News
Bay to bayou: URI biologist to lead $4 million NSF grant to advance wetland restoration in Rhode Island and Louisiana September 2, 2026 - Dr. Ying Zhang, professor of cell and molecular biology, recently received a $4 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to co-lead a collaboration with Louisiana State University to improve coastal wetland management in both states.
Exploring How Coral Reef Habitat Loss Affects Fish: Q&A with Sofia Grabiel Butler September 1, 2026 - This summer, marine biology major Sofia Grabiel Butler traveled to Guana Island in the British Virgin Islands to investigate how coral reef habitat loss may be contributing to declines in fish populations.
From Penguins to Rabbits: URI Undergraduates Help Improve Success of Conservation Breeding Programs for Imperiled Species August 31, 2026 - From penguins to rabbits, URI students are helping give imperiled species a better chance at survival. Under the mentorship of URI's Justin Richard and in partnership with leading zoos and aquariums, these CELS Summer Research Fellows are contributing to conservation efforts that reach far beyond the classroom.
Protecting Fish from Wildfire Runoff: Q&A with Garfield Kwan August 28, 2026 - Dr. Garfield Kwan joins URI as an assistant professor of fish ecophysiology in the Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science. His research explores how fish respond to aquaculture, wildfire runoff, and future ocean conditions.
Bridging Earth Science and Community: Q&A with Carolina Michel August 28, 2026 - Dr. Carolina Michel is excited to explore how Indigenous knowledge and Western science can inform each other, how arts-integrated and place-based learning shape students' sense of belonging in the geosciences, and what it means to build a department where interdisciplinary work is the starting point, not an afterthought.
Finding her field beneath the surface August 27, 2026 - Erin Sweeney discovered aquaculture and fisheries science at URI — and found a way to bring together her passions for science, conservation, anthropology, and photography.
CELS Summer Research Fellows examine flooding, pollution, and stormwater in Rhode Island August 25, 2026 - Carissa Sherman and Jaired Flanagan '26 used GIS, hydrologic modeling, and environmental data to investigate how water moves through Rhode Island communities — and how better stormwater management can protect local waterways and Narragansett Bay.
On the Front Lines of Mosquito Surveillance: Q&A with Mame Issa Ndoye August 25, 2026 - Mame Issa Ndoye identifies mosquitoes across Rhode Island as part of RIDEM's surveillance effort to track West Nile, Triple E, and Jamestown Canyon virus.