URI Today

Wednesday, February 6, 2013
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Joe Giblin

�Toxic or not?� Freshmen gain answers, share information on Twitter

Hazards from exposure to insecticides, mercury, and lead and whether bottled spring water is free of contaminants regularly make headlines around the world.

But in Angela Slitt�s class, �Toxic or Not?� a University of Rhode Island Grand Challenges offering from last semester, the professor did more than just rely on compelling subject matter to engage her students. She required all of them to Tweet about what they learn and draw others to the Twittersphere to join them in the conversation.

The class satisfies a general education science requirement. Provost Donald H. DeHayes, who wanted freshmen to be stimulated by courses that focus on critical societal issues, launched the Grand...

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Today's Top Stories

[grants] thumbnail placeholder Champlin Foundations boosts hands-on learning at URI with $530,000 in grants: A state-of-the-art scientific diving research and training facility will be equipped at the University of Rhode Island thanks to a $120,000 grant from The Champlin Foundations.

[performances] thumbnail placeholder Jewish, Palestinian comedians to perform 'Stand Up for Peace' Feb. 7: As part of the University's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Week, URI Hillel, joined by many other organizations will present "Stand Up for Peace," on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 pm in the Memorial Union Ballroom. The performance is free and open to the public.

[athletics] thumbnail placeholder Gareth Elliott returns as men's soccer head coach: Director of Athletics Thorr Bjorn has announced the hiring of Gareth Elliott as head coach of the URI men's soccer team. Elliott - who previously led the Rams to the NCAA tournament as both a player and an assistant coach - returns to Kingston after spending the last five years as the head coach at Siena College.