College of the Environment and Life Sciences

A hands-on workshop at URI brought together professionals from across New England to learn how evaluating soil helps ensure septic systems protect groundwater, ecosystems, and public health.

Associate Professor of Natural Resources Science Madison Jones, who also holds a joint appointment in Professional & Public Writing, is using rhetoric, fieldwork, and creative thinking to train the next generation of science communicators.

After more than four decades at the University of Rhode Island, planning professor Farhad Atash's legacy can be seen in Rhode Island communities, the students he guided, and the profession he helped strengthen.

A rare Titan Arum (better known as the corpse flower) is preparing to bloom at the University of Rhode Island's Horridge Conservatory. This remarkable plant flowers only once every 5-7 years, stays open for just 24-8 hours, and produces its infamous rotting-flesh scent to attract pollinators.

Starting at 2pm June 5, some 300 volunteers will have just 24 hours to find as many species of life as possible at two sites in Kingston in the 27th annual Rhode Island BioBlitz, organized by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey.

University of Rhode Island professor Thomas Mather recently visited The Daily Show to talk all things ticks with host Michael Kosta. Also known as “The Tick Guy,” Mather is a renowned researcher and expert in public health entomology.

Through hands-on classes, greenhouse work, and research opportunities, Kaylyn Wood found a career path rooted in plants, wellness, and entrepreneurship. She's now double majoring in plant sciences and psychology with minors in entrepreneurship and cannabis studies.

Supported by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, URI graduate student Madalyn Stoltz is investigating how stone walls contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in Rhode Island.

Dr. Matthew Calestino ’94 credits his URI education with laying the foundation for a career in internal medicine. He now returns to URI to support future laboratory professionals and honor his family’s longstanding connection to healthcare education.

URI professor Johanna Harvey’s research contributes to deeper understanding of avian influenza dynamics in U.S. wild bird species

University’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities join for annual celebration to build understanding and interest and celebrate Asian/Pacific cultures at URI

A recipient of the 2026 Undergraduate Student Inclusive Excellence Award, Sharday Johnson advances first-generation student support, interdisciplinary learning, and campus-wide inclusion through advocacy and historical preservation.

From studying coastal wolves and salt marshes to caring for animals at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Crystal Rivera De Leon ’26 built her URI experience around curiosity, community, and hands-on learning.

From coral farming and seaweed cultivation to sustainable reef aquaculture, Taras Pleskun ’17 is helping redefine what the modern aquarium industry looks like.

Through lab research, fieldwork, and close faculty mentorship, Abby Harlow is discovering how plant sciences can address real-world agricultural challenges.

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.

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.

Student-led redesigns aim to turn Easton’s Pond shoreline into accessible, environmentally resilient public space

With support from the Amgen Foundation, URI delivers hands-on biotechnology labs to high school classrooms across Rhode Island, connecting students to real-world science and career pathways.

Emilio Pedroza Lopez’s NSF-funded research examines how social dynamics influence movement, resources, and survival in degus, a small rodent native to Chile