Science professors at the University of Rhode Island are entering their third year of research to protect honey bees from varroa mites, combining their knowledge of chemistry and biology along the way. Chemistry professor and department chair, Matt Keisewetter, and entomology professor, Steven Alm, are working together to develop new pesticides that are safe for…
On Oct. 1, the U.S. federal government passed a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown due to Congress’s failure to pass funding legislation for the upcoming year. During a government shutdown, the money that the federal government disburses to pay employees and fund research and federally funded programs stops flowing, resulting in many federal…
Invasive species are posing a threat to the ecosystems they invade, and typically a biologist’s solution to the damage caused by invasive species is to eliminate them from the environment they harm. However, some controversy on killing invasive species has arisen, as some biologists believe it is unethical to kill invasive species. According to Laura…
Vice President of Student Affairs Ellen M. Reynolds discussed the incoming Fall 2023 class. Alongside Dr. Reynolds was Tom Cooley, the newest member of the Student Affairs leadership team. Cooley has 20 years of experience in housing and worked at the University of Chicago. Reynolds reported that the Fall 2023 class had 25,385 student applicants…
A new URI101 pilot program was launched, making the existing course more in-depth and effective for students. The URI101 course has been part of the first-year experience at the University of Rhode Island for 28 years. Throughout its time here, it has been an introductory course that teaches students about URI, introduces them to their…
This year, the University of Rhode Island’s Student Involvement introduced the online platform, URInvolved, to enhance student activities and event coordination. Maureen McDermott, the assistant director of student involvement at URI, said the software streamlines student engagement through providing a place for organizations to post and plan events and activities. Students can use URInvolved to…
The College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Development Institute have partnered with RI Bio, Skills for Rhode Island’s Future and the State Department of Labor and Training to create a program called “Biotech Boot Camp.” They are hosting a two-week program for 15 interested Rhode Island residents to come to Avedisian Hall on campus. This program…
The University of Rhode Island’s Feinstein College of Education received a $300,000 grant to diversify its teacher candidates’ pool. The grant, called the Urban Residency Initiative Pathways to Education, was awarded by the non-profit Rhode Island Foundation. The college plans to use the funding to provide introductory teaching courses to high school students from the…
The town of Narragansett’s Gansett Days and Gansett Fest events occurred on one day, instead of three, due to poor weather caused by Hurricane Ophelia. Severe weather warnings forced the cancellation of events on Friday and Saturday. Organizers from the Chamber of Commerce, the Narragansett Lions Club and the Parks and Recreation department had to…
Researchers have been studying microplastics in Narragansett Bay and their potential effects on marine wildlife. According to University of Rhode Island Ph.D. Candidate Victoria Fulfer, microplastics are any plastic less than 5mm in size. “It can be anything from the largest ones you can see, which are about the size of a small bead, and…