KINGSTON, R.I. — Nov. 25, 2025 — High school students with an interest in science visited the University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy on Nov. 21 to experience the classrooms, gardens, and labs of the college’s Avedisian Hall, giving them a look at science in action, and demonstrating the diverse career opportunities available in pharmaceutical and biotech sciences.
More than 200 students from seven high schools throughout Rhode Island visited to learn more about the role of a pharmacist, the opportunities available to them at URI, and the information they need to apply to the URI College of Pharmacy.
Students broke into groups to tour the building and observe demonstrations by faculty members and students. Youngken Medicinal Garden Coordinator Elizabeth Liebovitz’s team gave a presentation on the use of plants and herbs in medicine; simulation lab co-director Amanda Chichester demonstrated the use of life-like mannequins in the Patient Simulation Laboratory; URI students taught their high school counterparts how to make capsules in the college’s compounding lab; and professors and students demonstrated proper CPR and vaccination techniques, among other demonstrations.
Along the way, URI students, faculty and staff members answered the high school students’ questions about programs offered in the college, and the many career opportunities a pharmaceutical degree affords beyond retail bench pharmacy.
Exploration Day aims to give students the opportunity to:
- Learn the role of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists
- Explore research opportunities
- Participate in health and wellness activities
- Tour the pharmacy building and medicinal garden
- Experience the College’s simulation lab
“The event immerses the students in our programs, and gives them the chance to interact with pharmacy students and professors to learn what the pharmacy profession is all about,” said Professor Erica Estus, who organizes the semi-annual event. “This brings pharmacy to life for them and shows them what a day in the life of a pharmacist looks like, and all the different avenues they can pursue. It also gives our students, faculty and staff the opportunity to showcase what the URI College of Pharmacy has to offer.”