PROVIDENCE, RI – Leading researchers from the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) are rethinking approaches to climate change impacts, adaptation, and resilience.  Thanks to over $3.4 million in new federal funding, these leading Ocean State institutions will partner with other research universities on ambitious, multidisciplinary four-year projects to develop strategies to enhance community resilience to climate change.

Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo hailed the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program’s latest award to Rhode Island.  EPSCoR is designed to fulfill NSF’s mandate to promote scientific progress nationwide.  Through the program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education and industry that are designed to effect lasting improvements in a state's or region's research infrastructure, research and development (R&D) capacity and hence, its national R&D competitiveness.

The NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program awards will support interdisciplinary research teams working across jurisdictions to advance climate change research and build resilience in disproportionately affected communities nationwide. These teams, which include a diverse array of academic institutions and partners from government, industry and nonprofits, will leverage their collaborative efforts to develop climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, expand STEM opportunities and drive economic growth. 

The federal EPSCoR grants include:

  • Equitable Nature-based Climate Solutions -- University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island School of Design along with University of New Hampshire, University of Louisville — Through community-driven hubs, this project utilizes a transdisciplinary approach to understand, design and implement socially equitable nature-based solutions for increased climate resilience.  This project includes partnerships across New Hampshire, Kentucky and Rhode Island.
  • URI is slated to receive $1,430,000 over 4 years to carry out this project.
  • RISD is slated to receive $514,746 over 4 years to carry out this project.
  • Risks, Impacts, & Strategies for Coastal Communities: Advancing Convergent Science to Support Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience, University of Delaware, University of Rhode Island and College of Charleston —  By developing climate research, education and workforce development infrastructure, this project will address compounding climate hazards affecting coastal communities, such as flooding and salinization, affecting coastal communities, while increasing scientific literacy and strengthening workforce diversity. This project includes partnerships across Delaware, Rhode Island and South Carolina. 
  • URI is slated to receive $1,500,000 over 4 years to carry out this project.

“EPSCoR research helps advance scientific understanding, informs decision making, and helps us develop regional solutions to the impacts of climate change.  I commend URI and RISD for working together and teaming up with other leading universities on these critical projects,” said Senator Reed, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee who leads the bipartisan push for EPSCoR funds.  Working on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Reed has led efforts to ensure Rhode Island’s EPSCoR eligibility since 2004 and has helped direct nearly $100 million in EPSCOR funding for collaborative research projects to the Ocean State during that period.  “I will continue championing EPSCoR dollars for Rhode Island and nationally and doing everything I can to strengthen our research infrastructure and help solve pressing challenges.”

“Rhode Island’s world-class institutions are on the leading edge of research and innovation, and are well-positioned to strengthen our defenses from climate change,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “This federal funding will help URI and RISD develop smart, regional strategies to build resiliency, and help lead our planet to climate safety.”

“Climate change research is crucial to developing strategies that combat this pressing threat, and the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island School of Design are among our nation’s cutting-edge institutions leading in this field,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “With this federal funding, these universities can continue their work to find solutions that will strength climate resiliency and protect vulnerable populations across Rhode Island from climate change.”

“Research plays a vital role our efforts to increase climate resilience. With this $3.4 million award from the National Science Foundation, researchers from the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Rhode Island will be able to reach even higher as they develop new climate solutions for our state,” said Rep. Gabe Amo, a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. “I will continue to work hard to deliver for Rhode Islanders so we can develop multi-disciplinary strategies to combat the harms of the climate crisis.”

“I am grateful for the continued support of Rhode Island’s federal delegation in securing more than $3.4 million dedicated to research and implementation projects related to climate resilience. As the Ocean State’s public flagship research university, URI has a unique understanding of the importance of climate resilience and the integration of nature into the development of socially equitable solutions for coastal and ocean-reliant communities,” said Dr. Bethany Jenkins, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the University of Rhode Island. As the longstanding home of the NSF ESPCoR program and with an outstanding interdisciplinary faculty team leading this project who are leaders in water resource management, remote sensing, and environmental communications, URI is uniquely positioned to drive impactful research and development related to climate resilience. “This funding will empower students and faculty to partner with colleagues at other institutions over the next four years to address the impacts of climate change and design solutions for mitigation and adaptation that center social equity and climate justice.”

RISD Provost Touba Ghadessi stated: “It is in RISD’s core to experiment, to iterate, to think through complex problems, and to design elegant solutions. The planetary issues we face hold deep meaning for Rhode Island communities who see first-hand how climate change affects daily life. On behalf of RISD, I extend my gratitude to our delegation who truly understands the importance of multidisciplinary research to augment climate resilience. From deepening investigations into biomimicry, to centering practice on historically-silenced populations most affected by environmental crises, RISD faculty and students will share their expertise through this inter-institutional collaboration, while learning greatly from this remarkable opportunity.” 

These awards for Rhode Island are among $77.8 million in federal investment in 14 projects through EPSCoR that span 50 institutions across 21 jurisdictions.

EPSCoR awards are made through merit-based proposal reviews and are designed to ensure competitive U.S. research dollars reach diverse geographic areas, including smaller states like Rhode Island.