The University of Connecticut (UConn) has a rich history of collaborating with the URI Inner Space Center through joint initiatives focused on marine science education, workforce development, and ocean exploration technology.

A primary cornerstone of this relationship was the National Science Foundation-funded Marine Technology for Teachers and Students (MaTTS) Project, a three-year collaborative effort between URI and UConn Avery Point. Through MaTTS, secondary school teachers trained at UConn to build oceanographic instruments like hydrophones and remotely operated vehicles before deploying them at URI using the ISC’s live telepresence broadcast capabilities. They have also participated in the Navy STEM Program, a regional partnership between the University of Connecticut and the University of Rhode Island that advances STEM education and workforce development aligned with U.S. Navy science and technology priorities, particularly in the maritime and submarine sectors.