URI geosciences students will soon be able to specialize in climate science

University of Rhode Island geosciences students study water ponds in India. The Department of Geosciences’ new water and climate sciences specialization prepares students to address climate issues like rising sea levels, flooding, droughts and saltwater intrusion. (Photo courtesy of University of Rhode Island)

Students in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Rhode Island (URI) can specialize in water and climate science come fall semester, the school announced last Thursday.

The new specialization, which the university claims is unique in the state, is meant to give undergraduate geoscience majors the knowledge to tackle climate change-related ecological issues like rising sea levels, extreme weather events, saltwater intrusion, flooding and droughts.  

“We are offering students a way to invest themselves in the problems of our time,” said Thomas Boving, the department’s chair, in a statement. “We’re working with many coastal communities where people are concerned about running out of water, saltwater intrusion, and water quality. Towns call us with particular concerns, and we work with students to identify how to get the data we need to study the problem.”

The new specialization will add courses taught by Ambarish Karmalkar, an assistant professor and climate modeller who has previously taught introductory classes on geology and climatology, as well as applied climate science and climate modelling. Like many courses in the geosciences catalog, the new slate of climate science courses will likely involve fieldwork in locations like Kingston and Providence.  

Climate science joins two existing specializations in the department: Geology and geological oceanography. The specializations offer different courses but share the geoscience major’s core curriculum, which includes classes on the structure of earth, environmental data analysis, sedimentary rock and landforms. Students can choose a specialization in their junior year. Successful completion of the geosciences major awards a Bachelor of Science degree.  

In 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasted above-average growth, 7%, for climate scientists over the next decade.