The Soil and Groundwater Contamination and Remediation Field School is a partnership between the University of Rhode Island (URI) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) that gives students hands-on experience assessing and remediating contaminated sites. Working alongside URI faculty and RIDEM professionals, participants combine classroom learning with fieldwork to develop practical skills in environmental investigation and cleanup.
What Students Do
Site Assessment
Students learn how to identify and evaluate subsurface contamination through
- Soil boring and sampling
- Photoionization detector (PID) screening
- Monitoring well installation using the Geoprobe® system
- Groundwater gauging and sampling
Remediation
Students also gain experience with remediation efforts, including:
- Slug testing
- Evaluating and selecting remediation technologies
What Are We Doing Now?
This summer, the field school is installing small pumping wells for cattle. Students gain hands-on experience with well installation, pumping, and hydrogeological testing while contributing to a real-world project.
Why Participate?
The field school gives students experience beyond the classroom while building technical skills sought by environmental employers. Participants work directly with professionals from URI and RIDEM and contribute to real-world environmental projects.
Program Details
Q. When is the field school offered?
A. The field school runs year-round. Field activities are conducted from spring through fall, weather permitting, while workshops are held online during the winter months.
Q. How do I apply?
A. Students interested in participating should contact one of the program coordinators listed below with a brief description of their background and major. Preference will be given to applicants who have taken or are currently enrolled in a course taught by Professor Boving.
Q. Where does the field school take place?
A. Winter workshops are held online. Field activities take place at Peckham Farm on the URI Kingston Campus.
Q. Is transportation provided?
A. No. Students are responsible for their own transportation to field activities.
Q. Is there a fee?
A. There is currently no fee to participate. However, students should expect a moderate time commitment of approximately 10 hours per subject.
Program Leadership
The field school is coordinated by:
- Dr. Tom Boving, professor and chair of the Department of Earth Sciences, Planning, and Design at URI
- Michael Cote environmental scientist with RIDEM’s Underground Storage Tank Management Program and Office of Land Revitalization and Sustainable Materials Management
- Jillian Thompson, RIDEM
Contact
For more information and to apply, please contact: