You Can Quote Me
Commenting on the roughly 6-mile-wide asteroid that collided with Earth approximately 66 million years ago, collapsing the food web and wiping out dinosaurs:
“To shut down an entire global ecosystem is truly astounding.”
—David Fastovsky, URI professor emeritus of geosciences
Mashable
Discussing a recent URI study he co-authored, which found extensive microplastics pollution stored in the surface sediments in Narragansett Bay and the role of education in reducing it:
“You hear about reduce, reuse, recycle, I think the ‘refuse’ is one thing that we don’t discuss enough. Just try not to accept plastic. If you don’t need a straw or you don’t need an extra spoon, don’t take it. Think about the second life of things.”
—J.P. Walsh, URI professor of oceanography and Coastal Resources Center director
The Boston Globe
Commenting on the sharp uptick in the number of workers who went on strike in 2023—more than 500,000, nearly three times as many as in 2022:
“This is a demonstration of the anger that American workers have about their position in the economy.”
—Erik Loomis, labor historian, URI professor of history
ABC News
On his suspicion that PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, may throw off the human endocrine system, disrupting metabolism and potentially affecting the body’s ability to maintain a stable energy balance:
“Obesity is an epidemic. And we can’t explain it by lack of physical activity or changing habits.”
—Philip Grandjean, M.D., URI adjunct professor of pharmacy and URI STEEP Research Program co-director
The New York Times Magazine
On the claim that volcanic activity, not human-driven climate change, is responsible for Antarctic ice melt:
“The evidence we have shows that volcanism cannot be solely responsible for the melt that we observe around Antarctica.”
—Brice Loose, URI associate professor of oceanography
USA Today
Discussing a United Nations-backed report she co-authored, which found that invasive species harm ecosystems and cost the global economy $423 billion a year:
“There are many hitchhikers and stowaways, but there are also many intentional introductions. So, some species have been introduced because of their perceived benefits.”
—Laura Meyerson, URI professor of natural resources science
PBS NewsHour
Photo: Terje Sørgjerd
News Ticker
ENHANCING ATHLETICS
URI has launched a major fundraising initiative to enhance athletics facilities and advance championship-caliber programs. The multiyear effort aims to raise $20 million, to build on $65.8 million in funding included in Rhode Island’s 2024 state budget.
GOING GOLD
URI’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society was inducted into the Circle of Excellence, with a Gold Honor Distinction, one of only 325 chapters nationwide to receive the commendation. Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is one of the most renowned multidisciplinary honor societies in American higher education.
VA RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
A new partnership will spur collaborative research among URI, the Providence VA Medical Center, and Ocean State Research Institute Inc., a VA-affiliated nonprofit research corporation. The agreement will expand the College of Pharmacy’s already robust research program and establish a URI research hub in the capital city.
RHODE ISLAND STATE CRIME LAB RECOGNIZED
Dennis Hilliard, director of the Rhode Island State Crime Lab, was recently honored by the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science with the Distinguished Forensic Scientist Award and by the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists with its Meritorious Service Award.
FALL COMMENCEMENT
On Dec. 16, 2023, URI celebrated a commencement ceremony in the Ryan Center for its undergraduate and graduate students who completed their degree requirements during the fall semester. President Marc Parlange and other officials offered words of encouragement and praise for more than 400 graduates and their families and friends.
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Social Snaps
REVOLUTIONIZING DEEP-SEA RESEARCH
An interdisciplinary multi-institute team led by Professor Brennan Phillips developed tech to capture biological data from fragile marine organisms to enhance our understanding of the deep-sea ecosystem.
Read more.
NURSING PLEDGE
Congratulations to the newest URI nursing students, welcomed during the semi-annual White Coat Ceremony.
MEET ME ACROSS THE POND!
Making connections all over the world! Great to have some of our global alumni meet up with students traveling in London and Paris during a Winter J-Term trip with the Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design.