URI students discover historic shipwrecks with NOAA OECI

Using URI’s state-of-the-art ROV Rhody, the OECI-organized team documented 17 historic wrecks (and even discovered several new ones) while mapping the lakebed aboard EPA’s Lake Guardian. These ultra high-res surveys will help NOAA identify and preserve underwater cultural heritage in the Great Lakes.

URI achieves the highest designation for research excellence

In February, The University of Rhode Island officially joined the top tier of U.S. research institutions, earning prestigious Carnegie R1 status. This achievement reflected our dedication to exploration, discovery, and innovation!

GSO doctoral students support offshore fisheries research at RI wind sites

Twice a month from May to November, GSO’s Reese Kober and Emmanuel Oyewole head to the Revolution and South Fork wind sites to support the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation. They work alongside the vessel’s crew, collecting biological data on these species that informs stock assessments and sustainable fisheries management.

VAMPIRE completes its first deepwater trials

Designed by GSO’s Chris Roman, the Visual Acoustic Mesopelagic Profiler for Interdisciplinary REsearch (VAMPIRE) is an autonomous robotic system built to study the ocean’s twilight zone with minimal disturbance to marine life.

The successful deployment marks the end of VAMPIRE’s five-year development period and its transition into active use for midwater research, offering a quieter alternative to traditional net-based sampling.

R/V Endeavor’s final cruise

In September, a crowd gathered at the Narragansett Bay Campus Pier to welcome R/V Endeavor home from its final scientific mission. Joined by the URI Sea Shanty Social Club and the Pawtuxet Rangers (with their cannon salute), the celebration marked the retirement of URI’s faithful research vessel after 50 years and more than 700 scientific missions.

Northern Lights over the Bay Campus

The aurora lit up the skies over Narragansett Bay for two nights in November, drawing spectators to the Bay Campus for the incredible view.

K-12 educators experience ocean science research aboard Endeavor

Twelve local educators stepped into the role of shipboard scientists aboard Endeavor, joining the Rhode Island Teachers at Sea cruise, a unique, hands-on educational experience sponsored by GSO. The three-day expedition is designed to foster partnerships between ocean scientists, researchers, and teachers who live and work in Rhode Island.

Coral reef food webs are more siloed and vulnerable than previously understood

A study led by GSO’s Kelton McMahon found that food webs on tropical reefs are more fragile than we once thought. Instead of being part of a highly connected system where species can easily switch food sources, many reef creatures in these incredibly biodiverse ecosystems rely on surprisingly narrow, specialized energy pathways that link specific species to distinct sources of primary production.

Critical weather-related tools continue with state funding

The URI-developed RI-CHAMP, STORMTOOLS, and MyCoast tools received state funding in July that has enabled the university to continue leading in coastal safety analysis, early warning systems, and resilience.

Studying sediments to discover how freshened water ended up beneath the seafloor

GSO’s Becky Robinson was one of three chief scientists leading the New England Shelf Hydrogeology expedition, a 74-day mission with 41 researchers from around the world. The team returned in August with an unprecedented collection of samples—718 cores measuring over 871 meters and 50,000 liters of groundwater—to be analyzed in laboratories across the globe, including here at the Bay Campus!