Earth, water and climate sciences are central to fundamental problems of today’s world. All of our major environmental problems—clean water shortages, global warming and sea level rise, land use, natural hazards, environmental pollution, stormwater remediation, and the availability of key natural resources—find their scientific roots, and their ultimate solutions, within the study of earth, water and climate sciences, which are the three core areas of the Department of Geosciences.
Our students increasingly use computer models of water, the climate, and the solid earth, in addition to having strong field and laboratory work skills. Our highly motivated faculty and diverse population of students take full advantage of URI’s unique location at the Atlantic coastline and in the formerly glaciated New England region. We also explore the hydrology of arctic deltas, work extensively on water issues in Asia, conduct geobiology research in California, investigate the global consequences of climate change, and much more.
We are a community of faculty, staff, students, and members of the interested public who are committed to geoscience problem solving with an anti-racist agenda: we work together to increase diversity in our programs and field, to promote equity in interpersonal, academic, and societal frameworks, to foster inclusive action, and to engage in matters of social justice.
Events
News
URI awarded $1.5M EPSCoR grant to team with Warren on coastal resilience - KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 27, 2024 – Sitting on Narragansett Bay in northeastern Rhode Island, the town of Warren is highly vulnerable to the effects of sea-level rise and flooding due to its low elevation. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projections, the sea level is projected to rise 1.6 feet by 2050 – […]
What Technologies Are Available for Cleaning up PFAS? - September 19, 2024 Dr. Thomas Boving, Chair of The Department of Geosciences joins to discuss what and how we can address the contaminations of our waterways, from lakes and streams to groundwater. With agrochemicals, PFAS and other toxic additives, American waterways are challenged like never before. Dr. Boving has worked here and abroad to address […]