At the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, you’ll deepen your understanding of the living world and your place within it.
The work that happens here is rooted in our land- and sea-grant mission, and connected to the needs of the local, regional, and global communities. Our faculty researchers work collaboratively across disciplines, drawing from a broad, inclusive field of human knowledge to make critical discoveries within their fields. URI’s core research facilities and specialized labs offer the latest technologies that will enable you to gather field data, synthesize vast amounts of information, and develop solutions to real world challenges. Whether you are interested in urban food systems; protecting marine wildlife; understanding what makes an organism adapt and an ecosystem thrive; or assisting policy makers in the shift towards renewable energy and sustainable natural resource management, you’ll find your place here.
URI Cooperative Extension
Education and engagement with Rhode Island communities is at the core of what we do. As a land-grant and sea-grant university, our mission is to ensure URI provides education and applied research that helps communities and improves the lives of Rhode Islanders.
learn moreNews and Stories
The New Age of Ornamental Aquaculture May 21, 2026 - From coral farming and seaweed cultivation to sustainable reef aquaculture, Taras Pleskun ’17 is helping redefine what the modern aquarium industry looks like. 
URI Plant Sciences Student Gains Research Experience in Crop Genetics May 19, 2026 - Through lab research, fieldwork, and close faculty mentorship, Abby Harlow is discovering how plant sciences can address real-world agricultural challenges.
Bridging business, economics, and sustainability May 14, 2026 - Through applied coursework, close faculty mentorship, and interdisciplinary study, Anna Geubtner ’26 found a path in environmental economics that connects economic theory with real-world environmental challenges.
Beyond the Classroom: Angela Marses ’26 Reflects on Growth at URI May 13, 2026 - Through research, clinical experience, and a transformative scholarship program, molecular neuroscience major and Ryan Scholar Angela Marses has shaped her path toward medicine at the University of Rhode Island.