URI Awarded $565K From Champlin Foundation

KINGSTON, RI — The University of Rhode Island received $565,402 in grants from the Champlin Foundation to help improve hands-on learning experiences for students across a variety of fields of study.

"The funding from The Champlin Foundation enables URI to purchase innovative technologies that provide our students with outstanding educational experiences," said Donald DeHayes, URI's provost. "URI faculty from across campus are enthusiastic about developing new cutting-edge learning opportunities that enhance access and contemporary learning modalities for our students."

Over the course of more than 30 years, the foundation has awarded more than $15 million to the university. This year's grant will benefit the chemistry, engineering, marine and environmental science and photography departments.

"Support from The Champlin Foundation has elevated URI’s ability to provide exceptional hands-on education for our students across a broad range of disciplines. These awards help our students thrive in globally competitive industries," said Katharine Hazard Flynn of the URI Foundation. "We are grateful to The Champlin Foundation for their continued generosity."

Full descriptions of the grants and grant recipients are below.

• Molecular Movies for the Selfie Generation: Nanosecond Laser Spectroscopy in Undergraduate STEM Education: $174,618, to purchase and construct a spectrometer that will enable almost 500 undergraduates to work with high-powered lasers and optics in a variety of science and engineering courses. It will be the second instrument of its kind used in undergraduate labs in New England.
  • Principal Investigators: Dugan Hayes, Department of Chemistry; Jason Dwyer, Department of Chemistry; Leonard Kahn, Department of Physics; Michael Tammaro, Department of Physics; Daniel Roxbury, Department of Chemical Engineering; Tao Wei, Department of Electrical Engineering
• A Mobile Water and Nutrient Recovery System for Sustainability Education and Ecological Protection in Rhode Island: $170,000, to purchase cutting-edge analytical instrumentation for a new water and nutrient recovery technology educational system that will impact environmental curricula across the University and align it with urgent employment needs in water treatment and resource recovery.
  • Principal Investigators: Joseph Goodwill, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering; Vinka Craver, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering; Geoffrey Bothun, Department of Chemical Engineering; Thomas Boving, Department of Geosciences/Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering; Soni Pradhanang, Department of Geosciences; Rainer Lohmann, Graduate School of Oceanography; Leon Thiem, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Acquisition of a Cone Penetration System for Training the Next Generation of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Professionals in Rhode Island: $126,392, for in situ testing equipment that can help improve civil engineering infrastructure. While Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) is considered best practice, it is not widely used in Rhode Island and it could improve the level of practice in the state, as well as make URI graduates more competitive in the broader geotechnical and geoenvironmental workplace.
  • Principal Investigators: Christopher D.P. Baxter, Department of Ocean Engineering/Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Aaron S. Bradshaw, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Thomas Boving, Departments of Geosciences/Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Advanced Scuba Diving and Underwater Imaging Technology: $94,392, to provide more students with the diving gear and underwater image equipment necessary for advanced multi-disciplinary curriculum developed by URI’s internationally recognized, award-wining diving and photography professionals. The funding will make the program accessible to an economically diverse community.
  • Principal Investigators: Anya Hanson, Department of Fisheries, Animal & Veterinary Sciences, College of the Environment & Life Sciences; Alexandra Moen, Department of Fisheries, Animal & Veterinary Sciences, College of the Environment and Life Sciences; Annu Palakunnathu Matthew, Department of Art & Art History, College of Arts and Sciences; Jason Jaacks, Harrington School of Communication and Media, College of Arts and Sciences