Skip to main content
Sustainability

Sustainability in Action

Biodiversity | Buildings | Energy | Food | Transportation | Waste | Water | Living Green


The University of Rhode Island has been at the forefront of environmental research for decades, helping to develop a greater understanding of ecology while also examining the impact of human activities on ecosystems as varied as the deep sea and suburban backyards. The operations of the campus itself have not always kept up with the advanced research and teaching taking place within its buildings, but that is rapidly changing.

Click on the tabs above to see sustainability in action at URI.
 



Highlights:


URI oceanography student earns top awards at scientific conference

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 03/11/2013
Tags: Biodiversity Water

Maryjo Brounce, a doctoral student in the oceanography program, has earned awards for best student presentation and outstanding student research paper at the American Geophysical Union conference. 


Department of Environmental Economics and College of Business Introduce Green Business Dual Degree

By: CELS News  Date: 02/20/2013
Tags:
Buildings Energy Living Green

The Department of Environmental Economics and The College of Business are now offering one of the first double majors aimed at sustainable business practices. 


URI Engineering Professor Rethinks Manufacturing

By: URI's Big Story  Date: 02/18/2013
Tags: Buildings Energy Transportation Living Green

URI engineering professor Manbir Sodhi wants to move beyond sustainable energy and food. He thinks it's about time we started making our everyday products, from computers to cars, more sustainable. 


URI oceanographer appeals for legislation to reduce chemical pollution in oceans

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/29/2013
Tags: Energy Waste Water

An oceanographer at URI is pushing congress to pass a bill that would help keep our oceans free of toxic chemicals. 


URI scientists edit, author new book on restoration of salt marshes

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/28/2013
Tags:
Biodiversity Waste Water Living Green

Nearly half of the salt marshes in the Northeastern United States have been destroyed by human development. A new book, co-edited by a URI scientist and including chapters written by URI affliates provides the basic foundation and guidance to restoring the marshes. 


Biodiversity - Making Headlines:


URI student finds managing land for woodcock benefits songbirds, other wildlife

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/03/2013
Tags: Biodiversity Living Green

URI senior Lindsey Barnard has discovered how managing landscapes for a specific species of bird is beneficial to a variety of other wildlife.



More News:


URI oceanography student earns top awards at scientific conference

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 03/11/2013
Tags: Biodiversity Water

Maryjo Brounce, a doctoral student in the oceanography program, has earned awards for best student presentation and outstanding student research paper at the American Geophysical Union conference. 


URI scientists edit, author new book on restoration of salt marshes

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/28/2013
Tags:
Biodiversity Waste Water Living Green

Nearly half of the salt marshes in the Northeastern United States have been destroyed by human development. A new book, co-edited by a URI scientist and including chapters written by URI affliates provides the basic foundation and guidance to restoring the marshes. 


URI student’s shark research aims to reduce shark deaths from fishing

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/24/2013
Tags: Biodiversity Water

URI sophomore Chelsea Stephens has devised an extremely clever yet simple method to catching sand tiger sharks without putting the animal's life in danger.


An edible forest takes root at Peckham Farm

By: Rudi Hempe  Date: 06/27/2012
Tags:
Biodiversity Food Water Living Green

Tyler Desmarais is the creator of a unique project at URI called the “Edible Forest Garden” and his base of operations is a section of Peckham Farm surrounding a small man-made pond.


URI pollution prevention center recognized for training students to find solutions to environmental concerns

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 05/29/2012
Tags: Biodiversity Waste Water

The URI Center for Pollution Prevention has been recognized by the Narragansett Bay Commission with its 2011 Pollution Prevention Environmental Merit Award for its work to educate and prepare students to find sustainable and cost effective solutions to environmental problems.

 

Buildings - Making Headlines:


Coming soon.


More News:


Department of Environmental Economics and College of Business Introduce Green Business Dual Degree

By: CELS News  Date: 02/20/2013
Tags:
Buildings Energy Living Green

The Department of Environmental Economics and The College of Business are now offering one of the first double majors aimed at sustainable business practices. 


URI Engineering Professor Rethinks Manufacturing

By: URI's Big Story  Date: 02/18/2013
Tags: Buildings Energy Transportation Living Green

URI engineering professor Manbir Sodhi wants to move beyond sustainable energy and food. He thinks it's about time we started making our everyday products, from computers to cars, more sustainable. 


Students sing praises of new residence hall

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 10/26/2012
Tags: Buildings Energy Waste Water Living Green

What's it like to live in the greenest dorm on campus? Students tell us how this building will enhance their learning experience.


URI pharmacy students, faculty to experience a new healthy, sustainable building

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 09/04/2012
Tags: Buildings Energy Waste

University of Rhode Island pharmacy students and faculty have moved to a new academic home - a sunny, environmentally friendly building constructed in the Kingston campus' new North Science District.


Princeton Review rates URI among top green universities

By: Brian Pernicone  Date: 05/03/2012
Tags: Buildings Energy

The University’s efforts commitment to sustainability was recognized last week with the release of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition. . URI also was included in the 2010 and 2011 editions.


Energy - Making Headlines:


URI offers training programs in energy, invasive plant management, rain gardens

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 03/15/2012
Tags: Energy Living Green

The Outreach Center at the University of Rhode Island is offering three training programs in the coming weeks for residents interested in learning about energy conservation and efficiency, how to design and install a residential rain garden, and how to manage invasive plants.



More News:


Department of Environmental Economics and College of Business Introduce Green Business Dual Degree

By: CELS News  Date: 02/20/2013
Tags: Buildings Energy Living Green

The Department of Environmental Economics and The College of Business are now offering one of the first double majors aimed at sustainable business practices. 


URI Engineering Professor Rethinks Manufacturing

By: URI's Big Story  Date: 02/18/2013
Tags: Buildings Energy Transportation Living Green

URI engineering professor Manbir Sodhi wants to move beyond sustainable energy and food. He thinks it's about time we started making our everyday products, from computers to cars, more sustainable. 


URI oceanographer appeals for legislation to reduce chemical pollution in oceans

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/29/2013
Tags: Energy Waste Water

An oceanographer at URI is pushing congress to pass a bill that would help keep our oceans free of toxic chemicals. 


Students sing praises of new residence hall

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 10/26/2012
Tags:
Buildings Energy Waste Water Living Green

What's it like to live in the greenest dorm on campus? Students tell us how this building will enhance their learning experience.


URI pharmacy students, faculty to experience a new healthy, sustainable building

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 09/04/2012
Tags: Buildings Energy Waste

University of Rhode Island pharmacy students and faculty have moved to a new academic home - a sunny, environmentally friendly building constructed in the Kingston campus' new North Science District.


Food - Making Headlines:


URI students growing produce for campus catering, dining halls

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 09/20/2011
Tags: Food Living Green

Students eating in the University of Rhode Island dining halls and those enjoying catered meals at University events are consuming produce grown and harvested by fellow URI students



More News:


An edible forest takes root at Peckham Farm

By: Rudi Hempe  Date: 06/27/2012
Tags: Biodiversity Food Water Living Green

Tyler Desmarais is the creator of a unique project at URI called the “Edible Forest Garden” and his base of operations is a section of Peckham Farm surrounding a small man-made pond.


URI Research project aims at rescuing bluefin tuna fishery

By: Rudi Hempe  Date: 01/16/2012
Tags: Biodiversity Food

Dr. Terence Bradley from the Blount Aquaculture Lab at the Bay Campus is setting up a unique project to try to breed bluefin tuna in captivity. If they succeed, it will be the first such operation in the country.

 

 


URI Coastal Resources Center helping Senegal address declining fisheries, climate change

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 11/22/2011
Tags: Biodiversity Food

The West African nation of Senegal is facing a serious problem with food security, in part due to a decline in its fisheries and  the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center has signed on to help look for answers.


Sustainability officer aims to change campus culture

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 08/15/2011
Tags: Biodiversity Buildings Energy Food Transportation Waste Water Living Green

Marsha Garcia is working to send a message to University of Rhode Island students, faculty and staff to be mindful of how their lifestyle affects the health of the planet and to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.


For chef, farm raised salmon can be sustainable

By: Shane Donaldson  Date: 06/23/2011
Tags: Biodiversity Food Living Green

The 10th annual Ronald C. Baird Sea Grant Science Symposium, "Developing the Rhode Island Seafood Knowledge Economy: Perspectives on Seafood Sustainability,” will discuss different viewpoints on what makes seafood sustainable, including environmental, economic, and health aspects

 


Transportation - Making Headlines:


URI begins fueling research ship with biodiesel; first step in ‘greening’ the Endeavor

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/17/2012
Tags: Energy Transportation

When the University of Rhode Island’s research ship Endeavor topped off its 53,000 gallon fuel tanks last month, it filled up with refined biodiesel, making it the first ship in the U.S. research fleet to use the alternative fuel.



More News:


URI Engineering Professor Rethinks Manufacturing

By: URI's Big Story  Date: 02/18/2013
Tags: Buildings Energy Transportation Living Green

URI engineering professor Manbir Sodhi wants to move beyond sustainable energy and food. He thinks it's about time we started making our everyday products, from computers to cars, more sustainable. 


URI students launch recycling company, target automotive industry with free service

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 05/11/2012
Tags: Transportation Waste Living Green

Two University of Rhode Island undergraduate students have launched a recycling company that is saving local automotive companies hundreds of dollars in recycling costs each month.


Oceanographer leading effort to enlist commercial ships to collect ocean data

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 04/16/2012
Tags: Transportation Living Green

Commercial ships on the high seas offer a cost-effective platform for collecting data that could be used to learn about currents, plankton, ocean chemistry, climate change and other topics.


Student biodiesel process attracts national attention

By: Rudi Hempe  Date: 02/06/2012
Tags: Energy Transportation Waste

Daniel Mallin, a CELS Energy Fellow, gets to take his project poster “Improving the Efficiency of Biodiesel Production Using the Glycerol Pre-Wash” to the National Biodiesel Conference in Florida. 


Researching electric vehicles at URI

By: URI Communications  Date: 01/12/2012
Tags: Energy Transportation Waste Living Green

URI Professors Brett Lucht and Arijit Bose collaborate to build the next generation of lithium ion batteries.


Waste - Making Headlines:


'Toxic or Not?' URI freshman find answers and share information on twitter

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 01/23/2013
Tags: Waste Living Green

Last semester, a new class challenged students to combine scientific research and social media to educate themselves and others about hazardous materials. 



More News:


URI oceanographer appeals for legislation to reduce chemical pollution in oceans

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/29/2013
Tags: Energy Waste Water

An oceanographer at URI is pushing congress to pass a bill that would help keep our oceans free of toxic chemicals. 


URI scientists edit, author new book on restoration of salt marshes

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/28/2013
Tags:
Biodiversity Waste Water Living Green

Nearly half of the salt marshes in the Northeastern United States have been destroyed by human development. A new book, co-edited by a URI scientist and including chapters written by URI affliates provides the basic foundation and guidance to restoring the marshes. 


Students sing praises of new residence hall

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 10/26/2012
Tags: Buildings Energy Waste Water Living Green

What's it like to live in the greenest dorm on campus? Students tell us how this building will enhance their learning experience.


URI pharmacy students, faculty to experience a new healthy, sustainable building

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 09/04/2012
Tags: Buildings Energy Waste

University of Rhode Island pharmacy students and faculty have moved to a new academic home - a sunny, environmentally friendly building constructed in the Kingston campus' new North Science District.


Engineering renewable energy in Guatemala

By: URI College of Engineering  Date: 06/06/2012
Tags: Energy Waste Water Living Green

Professor of Civil Engineering Vinka Craver and her students are helping residents of rural Guatemala create their own bio fuel by turning animal waste into methane gas that can be used for heating and cooking. 


Water - Making Headlines:


URI Master Gardeners helping to re-establish the American Chestnut

By: Dr. Marion Gold  Date: 11/07/2010
Tags: Biodiversity Energy Water

URI's Dr. Marion Gold talks with Master Gardener Rudi Hempe about the URI American Chestnut Research Orchard.



More News:


URI oceanography student earns top awards at scientific conference

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 03/11/2013
Tags:
Biodiversity Water

Maryjo Brounce, a doctoral student in the oceanography program, has earned awards for best student presentation and outstanding student research paper at the American Geophysical Union conference. 


URI oceanographer appeals for legislation to reduce chemical pollution in oceans

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/29/2013
Tags:
Energy Waste Water

An oceanographer at URI is pushing congress to pass a bill that would help keep our oceans free of toxic chemicals. 


URI scientists edit, author new book on restoration of salt marshes

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/28/2013
Tags:
Biodiversity Waste Water Living Green

Nearly half of the salt marshes in the Northeastern United States have been destroyed by human development. A new book, co-edited by a URI scientist and including chapters written by URI affliates provides the basic foundation and guidance to restoring the marshes. 


URI student’s shark research aims to reduce shark deaths from fishing

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/24/2013
Tags: Biodiversity Water

URI sophomore Chelsea Stephens has devised an extremely clever yet simple method to catching sand tiger sharks without putting the animal's life in danger.


Students sing praises of new residence hall

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 10/26/2012
Tags:
Buildings Energy Waste Water Living Green

What's it like to live in the greenest dorm on campus? Students tell us how this building will enhance their learning experience.


Living - Making Headlines:


'Toxic or Not?' URI freshman find answers and share information on twitter

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 01/23/2013
Tags: Waste Living Green

Last semester, a new class challenged students to combine scientific research and social media to educate themselves and others about hazardous materials. 



More News:


Department of Environmental Economics and College of Business Introduce Green Business Dual Degree

By: CELS News  Date: 02/20/2013
Tags: Buildings Energy Living Green

The Department of Environmental Economics and The College of Business are now offering one of the first double majors aimed at sustainable business practices. 


URI Engineering Professor Rethinks Manufacturing

By: URI's Big Story  Date: 02/18/2013
Tags: Buildings Energy Transportation Living Green

URI engineering professor Manbir Sodhi wants to move beyond sustainable energy and food. He thinks it's about time we started making our everyday products, from computers to cars, more sustainable. 


URI scientists edit, author new book on restoration of salt marshes

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/28/2013
Tags: Biodiversity Waste Water Living Green

Nearly half of the salt marshes in the Northeastern United States have been destroyed by human development. A new book, co-edited by a URI scientist and including chapters written by URI affliates provides the basic foundation and guidance to restoring the marshes. 


URI student finds managing land for woodcock benefits songbirds, other wildlife

By: Todd McLeish  Date: 01/03/2013
Tags: Biodiversity Living Green

URI senior Lindsey Barnard has discovered how managing landscapes for a specific species of bird is beneficial to a variety of other wildlife.


Students sing praises of new residence hall

By: Dave Lavallee  Date: 10/26/2012
Tags: Buildings Energy Waste Water Living Green

What's it like to live in the greenest dorm on campus? Students tell us how this building will enhance their learning experience.


Sustainability Search


Loading

Green Thinker

>> Matt Sheldon thinks green commuting by bike

More Green Thinkers