Environmental Studies

The Brown University Herbarium was founded in 1869 when the University acquired the collections of Stephen Thayer Olney. The collection includes around 100,000 plant specimens and is an important repository of Rhode Island and New England collections. We also have specimens from all 50 US states (plus the District of Columbia) and the collection is rich in western and southern North American plants including sets of historically valuable specimens from 19th and early 20th century western US expeditions. Among other important collections, the Herbarium also includes a set of Charles Wright’s Cuban plants (1856-1867), Cyrus Pringles's plants of Mexico (1885-1909) and a unique and classic collection of Carex assembled by Stephen Olney. The Herbarium continues to be active and over the past few years we have added over 3,000 specimens to the collection. These include new collections made by faculty and students at Brown in addition to gifts from other herbaria.

As a campus-wide resource and forum for exploring the exciting connections between art, design and science, the Nature Lab is a hub for research, with staff and facilities to help support the increasing number of science courses offered at RISD. Students find a natural entry point here for addressing issues of sustainable living through biodesign – emerging areas of inquiry that include biomimetics, biophilic design and the use of natural and biological materials in architecture and building systems.

RIEEA is a network of professionals and organizations committed to promoting high quality environmental education that increases the environmental literacy of all children and adults in our state.

The mission of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island is to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats through conservation, education and advocacy, for the benefit of people and all other life.

Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table.

Climate Action RI is an action group focused specifically on the issue of climate change and what can be done on national, local, and individual levels. We are based in Rhode Island and are a local 350.org affiliate. New members are warmly welcome!

We are a coalition of organizations and individuals. Our mission is to serve as an effective voice for developing and advocating policies and laws that protect and enhance Rhode Island's environment. We are proud of our long history of environmental advocacy dating back to 1972.

A collaborative product of the members of the Civic Alliance for a Cooler Rhode Island (CACRI), this manual is designed to offer practical, up-to-date advice on: Reducing our contributions to climate change, Building relationships with each other and with our environment, and Making Rhode Island more livable for all of us.

The Civic Alliance for a Cooler Rhode Island assesses, informs, and activates efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in or attributable to Rhode Island. The purpose of CACRI is philanthropic and includes promoting social learning about climate change, including especially the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the commonweal, and protecting the environment and the functioning of the ecosystem.

Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, we impact conservation in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners.

The Rhode Island State Conservation Committee has been established within the Department of Environmental Management to serve as an agency of the State and to perform the functions conferred upon it by Chapter 2-4 of the Rhode Island General Laws. These functions include coordination of Conservation District activities with other federal, state and local entities regarding natural resources within the State of Rhode Island. The RI State Conservation Committee continues to provide assistance and support to the three Conservation Districts in their efforts to assist local landowners and municipalities in the proper stewardship of our lands and waters. To this end, the Committee works with state and federal agencies to promote the districts' mission on both the state and national level, while still providing administrative and program support.

The Rhode Island Chapter of the Sierra Club brings together its more than two thousand members and its tens of thousands of supporters to celebrate and protect the environment. We are an entirely volunteer driven organization, and our success grows from people like yourself who get involved to explore nature and make a difference.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) serves as the chief steward of the state’s natural resources – from beautiful Narragansett Bay to our local waters and green spaces to the air we breathe. Our mission put simply is to protect, restore, and promote our environment to ensure Rhode Island remains a wonderful place to live, visit, and raise a family.

Mission: To monitor the safety of environmental resources vital to public health including public drinking water supplies, ambient air, and food supplies.

The RI General Assembly created the RI Rivers Council in 1991 to coordinate efforts to improve the quality of the state’s rivers and their watersheds. In this site, you will find information about the Rivers Council's policies and programs, watershed councils throughout the state, the lands and waters they protect, and more ...

The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is home to a natural history museum offering interactive exhibits that explore local habitats and wildlife found in the Ocean State and the Audubon Nature Shop. Visitors discover creatures that live in a tidepool, observe marine life from Narragansett Bay, visit with Common Ravens Zach and Lucy, and peek inside a 33-foot life size model of a North Atlantic Right Whale.

The Biomes Center is New England's only private marine education facility and the most hands-on aquarium in the region. We've been providing interactive marine biology programs for schools and families since 1989.

Our mission is to steward and interpret natural and cultural collections through exhibits, education and research to inspire people of all ages and cultures to enjoy the natural world, in order to better understand themselves and the world. The Museum of Natural History is Rhode Island’s only natural history museum and is home to the state’s only public planetarium. For more than a century the museum has served as a unique educational, scientific and cultural resource by offering exciting exhibits and programming that provide ways for children and families to learn about our world and its people.

A land trust is an organization that works with willing landowners to permanently conserve the land they love for public benefit. In Rhode Island most land trusts are private, non-profit 501(c)3 organizations. Other land trusts are affiliated with municipal government and are created by state legislation or municipal charter or ordinance. Land trusts agree to permanently steward and defend the land and conservation easements they hold. Rhode Island has over 45 land trusts including 18 municipal land trusts.

Watershed Councils designated by the Rivers Council are empowered to testify before local and state hearings on issues affecting their watershed and are eligible for state grants through the Rivers Council.

As leaders in conservation and animal care, we create engaging experiences that empower guests to join us in conserving wildlife and wild places.

Save The Bay is an independent, member-supported, nonprofit organization. We got our start as a grassroots organization in 1970, when a small group of concerned citizens came together to fight an oil refinery proposed for the shores of Tiverton. Their work began our legacy as the eyes, ears and voice for Narragansett Bay. Today we carry out our mission through three areas of work: advocacy, education, and habitat restoration and adaptation.

Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) serves people in economically challenged urban neighborhoods where fresh produce is scarce and who, as a result, are at risk for life-threatening, diet-related, chronic diseases.