‘We are educating the next generation of the Blue Economy workforce.’

Oct. 7, 2024

With the faint sound of construction on the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory in the background, University of Rhode Island President Marc Parlange welcomed more than 200 guests to celebrate progress on the $300 million, multi-phase transformation of the Narragansett Bay Campus.

“The Bay Campus is the hub of Rhode Island’s Blue Economy,” said Parlange, greeting federal, state and local leaders and members of the URI community on the sunny lawn behind the Ocean Science and Exploration Center. “It’s really a nexus for oceanography, ocean engineering, environment and life sciences. We have education programs that are truly world-class. We have research laboratories that are knocking it out of the park. And we have vital partnerships with industries, nonprofits, and, of course, government.

“We have momentum. We’re really progressing on the Bay Campus and this is going to continue to grow as a thriving hub of innovation,” he added. “We are educating the next generation of the Blue Economy workforce.”

The multi-year revitalization of the Bay Campus, home to the Graduate School of Oceanography, the Department of Ocean Engineering, and other programs, includes critical infrastructure such as a modern pier, which was unveiled in May 2023 and will be home to the state-of-the-art, $125 million research vessel Narragansett Dawn, which is slated to be delivered in 2027. It also includes facilities upgrades such as the new Ocean Robotics Lab, which will be completed in May 2026.

Along with the Bay Campus project, the University is undergoing renovations to the Fine Arts Center that will be completed in fall 2025. URI is in the middle of a state bond campaign — Yes on 2 — that will ask voters to approve $160.5 million for new facilities at Rhode Island College and URI. On the Kingston Campus, the bond would provide $87.5 million for construction of a new biomedical sciences building.

In his remarks, Parlange thanked the many stakeholders that have championed the project – from the state’s congressional delegation, state and local leaders, and voters who approved two bond issues totaling $145 million.

Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi recalled meeting with Parlange, shortly after he became House speaker and Parlange became URI president, to tour the University. The meeting was held at the Bay Campus and it was pouring rain. Instead of showing off the University’s strengths, the tour made it clear the University needed upgrades.

“We were going into buildings that had leaking ceilings and there were buckets everywhere,” said Shekarchi. “I think I got played that day. President Parlange, you did a very good job. He said, ‘See speaker, we need money. We need money badly.’ … And when President Parlange says when you make an investment in URI, it’s an investment in all of Rhode Island, it’s true.”

“We are so fortunate to have world-class talent right here at URI in our Ocean State,” he added. “And now these facilities will be upgraded so URI’s incredible researchers and students will have the infrastructure to match their capabilities.”

“URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus is truly a hub for Rhode Island’s ever-growing Blue Economy,” said U.S. Sen Jack Reed, in a virtual message. “These infrastructure upgrades will allow the university to continue and expand its role as a national leader in this space.”

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse noted the work of people like world-renowned oceanographer and URI professor Robert Ballard; his wife, Sandra Whitehouse, who earned her Ph.D. in biological oceanography at the GSO; and others in pushing for renovations at the Bay Campus. 

“We’ve got good things happening here,” he said. “But what I see is the stepchild has finally been invited to the ball. And GSO is really coming back into its own again physically.”

Added U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner: “We’ve heard already about what’s happening here–about the brand new pier, which will host the Narragansett Dawn, about the Ocean Robotics Laboratory, and about the forthcoming buildings for the GSO, the Ocean Engineering Complex, for the College of Engineering, and on and on. But what this shows is that in Rhode Island, we are committed to URI. We are committed to being national leaders in this space and global leaders in this space.”

U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo said he has used his opportunity as a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to talk about the work being done at URI and ways to take advantage of its interdisciplinary approach to bolster Rhode Island’s strengths. “We all have a role to play in this work,” he said. “I am proud to be part of a team at the state and federal level that is committed to URI’s success. I look forward to more days like this where the sun is out and we’re gathered to celebrate this amazing institution.”

Dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography Paula Bontempi said improvements at the Bay Campus will fuel collaborations among URI Colleges of Engineering, Environment and Life Sciences, Education, and the GSO to address ocean challenges in the Ocean State and across the globe.

“Grand challenges in Earth’s ocean include global climate change, coastal resilience, disaster preparedness, and contaminants in the marine environment,” said Bontempi. “Now, we have tremendous opportunities to address these, thanks to state and federal investments in the campus. This investment by Rhode Island will help to grow our Blue Economy and catalyze new areas of research, technology, and education innovations.”

Dean of the College of Engineering Anthony Marchese noted the significance of the ocean on URI engineering, including the eightfold growth in annual research awards with $35 million last year, largely driven by ocean research, and that half of all engineering faculty at URI are funded by the Office of Naval Research. 

“These facilities will not only enable us to perform the research, but to transform the intellectual property of that research into commercial enterprises that create jobs,” Marchese said. “This is serious business. The future of our planet is at stake and that future is blue.”

The global ocean economy, said Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Elizabeth Tanner, is poised to grow by more than $300 billion in the next decade. “We here at Commerce, under the leadership of Governor Dan McKee, are working to make sure that Rhode Island gets our share of that through the Ocean Tech Hub. … URI has been a very important partner in that work and there’s still so much more work to be done to grow this industry.”

“As chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and a proud representative of South Kingstown in the General Assembly, I know that URI is a critical driver of our state’s economy,” said state Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski. “And especially here at the Bay Campus, URI is a cornerstone of our economic future. Thanks to the continued support of Rhode Islanders, this campus is on the leading edge of the Blue Economy. The infrastructure and facilities improvements made here will keep spurring innovation and help foster global connections. And we have amazing faculty and students here. And they will continue doing amazing work to take on the biggest challenges we face.”

URI Board of Trustees member David Martirano: “As we mentioned earlier, URI is now the number one public university in New England and we are just getting started. The Narragansett Bay Campus revitalization project is an example of the return on investment that URI provides to Rhode Islanders. In November, Rhode Island voters, with the support of our state leaders, have an opportunity to accelerate the life sciences industry in our state by supporting question No. 2 on the ballot. … This benefits all Rhode Island through job opportunities and economic growth while elevating the university on a global level.”

“The resources and improvements we are investing here at the Bay Campus will give future generations the tools to succeed,” said state Sen. Alana DiMario. “I am so grateful for that and I am committed to building on the progress that we have made together along with my colleagues in the General Assembly.”

“Four years ago when I met [President Parlange and Dean Bontempi] here, this campus was looking very tired,” said state Rep. Carol McEntee. “And that’s when the fight started. We [wanted to get this] to look like the global campus that is recognized around the world. And I think we did. I think we’re on the right track.”