University of Rhode Island

06/21/2026

A very Happy to all the Rhody dads, grandpas, and father figures out there! Thanks for all that you do! 🐏🩵

06/19/2026

At URI’s 5th annual Juneteenth celebration yesterday, members of the URI community gathered to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States and reflect on the ongoing pursuit of liberty, justice, and equality. Co-hosted by Marc Parlange and Community, Equity & Diversity, the event featured delicious food by URI Dining Services, live music by Big Lux, and meaningful conversations.

Vice President for Community, Equity, and Diversity Markeisha Miner delivered a powerful address exploring the connections between Juneteenth, Rhode Island history, and the nation’s ongoing pursuit of freedom. “Knowing this history does not limit us—it liberates us,” she said, encouraging attendees to learn from the past while continuing the work of building a more just and inclusive future.

President Marc Parlange reflected on the significance of Juneteenth and URI’s continued commitment to community, equity, and belonging, noting that while progress has been made, “there is work” still to be done in advancing economic, political, and social justice.

Special thanks to RIBBA, our campus partners, and everyone who joined us in celebrating this important day and helping make it a meaningful tradition at URI.

06/18/2026

Rhode Island's FY2027 budget, signed into law late last week, includes historic investments in URI, advancing key priorities in healthcare education and campus infrastructure.

KINGSTON, R.I. — June 17, 2026 — The Rhode Island General Assembly concluded its legislative session late last week by approving the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget, which was subsequently signed into law by Governor Dan McKee. The legislation includes historic investments in the University of...

06/18/2026

Many of you saw us keeping track of visitors to Morticia the co**se flower yesterday with this clicker — and enjoyed figuring out what number in line you were. Here’s the final tally of the night, taken around 2am!

We are so grateful for your enthusiasm and support!

06/17/2026

It's here! The University greenhouse will be open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 for those willing to brave its stinky scent. The bloom is brief—usually fading in about a day—so don't delay if you're planning to visit!

KINGSTON, R.I. – June 16, 2026 – Rhode Islanders have been waiting with bated breath. They may want to keep holding their breath but for many horticultural enthusiasts around the state, that is entirely the point. After welcoming a steady stream of interested visitors, the University of Rhode Is...

06/16/2026

Hours at the Horridge Conservatory have been extended today, June 16, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Can't make it in person? Tune in to the livestream and watch the co**se flower progress in real time!

A rare Titan arum (better known as the co**se flower) is preparing ...

06/12/2026

Visiting hours for Horridge Conservatory have been extended this weekend! The greenhouse will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We expect the flower to fully bloom next week. Once it does, visiting hours will be extended from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

📣 WEEKEND VIEWING HOURS! 📣

Come visit URI’s Horridge Conservatory (6 Greenhouse Road, Kingston) this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to see our famous co**se flower as it gets closer to its spectacular bloom!

We’re expecting the full bloom early next week, but only the plant knows for sure. Nature moves on its own timeline! When the bloom arrives, we plan to extend viewing hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. so everyone has a chance to experience this rare event.

The excitement across Rhode Island has been incredible, and we love seeing so much enthusiasm for one of nature’s most unusual and fascinating plants. Can’t make it in person? Check out the livestream and stay tuned for a time-lapse of the bloom!

👀 Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67O9UR8YB9c

🌿 Support the botanical gardens: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/68205/donations/new?designation=learninglandscapeoperatingakabotanicalgardens&

📸 Photo by Daniel Meservey, a plant sciences student who helps care for the greenhouse collection through watering, pruning, fertilizing, and pest management.

06/11/2026

06/10/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the 9th Annual URI Research and Scholarship Photo Contest!

This year’s winning images showcase the power of visual communication in research and scholarship, from Antarctic marine mammals and Rhode Island wildlife to the microscopic processes that shape our understanding of disease.

🥇 1st Place: “Built-In Neck Pillow” — Emily Sperou, postdoctoral fellow, Natural Resources Science | A southern elephant seal pup rests on a rocky beach in South Bay, Antarctica, capturing the vulnerability and resilience of young marine mammals in a rapidly changing Antarctic environment.

🥈 2nd Place: “Predator and Pollinator” — Alexia Lanagan ’26, Film/Media | A close look at a robber fly feeding on a bee, turning a moment in nature into a story of precision, perspective, and the food chain.

🥉 3rd Place: “Eastern Whip-poor-will In Hand” — Liam Corcoran ’18, M.S. ’25, research associate, Natural Resources Science | An in-the-hand portrait taken during field work tracking the migratory movements of an understudied bird species in decline.

✨ Committee’s Choice, Research Image: “Activation of Microglia in the Thalamus of a Preclinical Model of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy” — Dakota Hunter ’25, graduate student, Biopharmaceutical Sciences | An immunohistochemistry image from URI’s Schrader Lab showing an immune response in a preclinical model for cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a form of vascular dementia.

Visit the link below to read the full story behind the images:
➡️ https://www.uri.edu/magazine/issues/new-reads/scholarly-lens/

06/10/2026