HIGHER EDUCATION
Students, faculty offer compelling testimony for improved support to higher education At a public hearing held at URI on January 24, members of the University community told a state commission on higher education affordability and accessibility how declining support for higher education has placed crushing financial burdens on students and has hampered innovative faculty. More...

DISCOVERY
Professor discovers gene that regulates body weight While studying the relationship of a brain protein, called RGS9-2, to the side effects of drugs that treat Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, Abraham Kovooran, assistant professor of pharmacy, discovered RGS9-2 also plays a role in regulating body weight. More...

EXPLORATION
Oceanographer returns from historic Arctic expedition Robert Campbell, a marine research scientist at the Graduate School of Oceanography, recently returned from a six-week research cruise to the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea. This was the first time oceanographers have studied this Arctic region in winter during modern times. More...

RECOGNTION
URI animal doc is Vet of the Year David Serra is dedicated to caring for the animals at the University, from the mice in research labs to the livestock at Peckham Farm. In recognition of his commitment, Serra was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Southern New England chapter of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science. More...

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Working in the field starts early for Coastal Fellows Senior Ashley McCann studies serpentinite rocks for clues to life on Mars. Christine Weiss, a junior, is working on the eradication of a destructive invasive vine rampant on the East Coast. Both are part of the Coastal Fellows program, an initiative in which undergraduates are paired with a mentor and research staff to address current environmental problems.

DOWN THE ROAD, BETTER HIGHWAYS Professor Michael Greenfield in the College of Engineering received the Global Road Award in Research for his work simulating asphalt on a molecular level.