The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce annual look at the Rhode Island economy featured a conversation with the new president of The University of Rhode Island, Dr. Marc B. Parlange.

President Parlange, Chamber President Laurie White and Chamber Board Chair Alden Anderson, Jr. discussed a wide range of issues at the recent Economic Outlook Forum held virtually at URI's Graduate School of Oceanography at the Narragansett Bay Campus. The conversation focused on climate change, food sustainability, the blue economy, student success, business and academic partnerships and international collaboration, among other topics.

As the University's 12th president, Parlange comes to URI from Monash University, Australia’s largest research university and one of the world’s top 100 universities for excellence in research and teaching. President Parlange is a big thinker with a global view, a scientist and scholar, and a distinguished leader with a firm belief in the power of collaboration.

Innovation Hub
"We have a group of students and faculty who are extremely entrepreneurial. So we're generating new companies, new ideas that are coming out of our fantastic research at the University, and we're also drawing companies. So the idea of building an innovation campus and innovation hub here is extremely important for the state of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island." 

Community Support
"We have lots of good relationships that are underpinned by strong friendship. I think what has become very clear is that the state government wants to see us succeed. The citizens of the state want to see us succeed. It is our responsibility to capture that momentum and to move forward."

Today's Students
"This generation is fearless, and so they will double and triple major in various fields. They will find complimentary relationships between the sciences, engineering and health sciences along with the arts, humanities and business. So I find that extremely positive." 

Global Citizens
"I think it is important that we build global citizens, that we educate people that will build those friends and connections that will be so important going forward. There have always been study abroad programs, but URI has a very deep program with really intense study and double majoring in a language. Spending time in course work at an overseas university is very important."

Economic Driver
"We are attracting companies to the state. They want to be able to hire our graduates. We have lots of companies associated with the defense sector with marine services, ship building, and when you go there, you'll discover very quickly that half of the employees are probably URI graduates. So we are certainly an important feeder, but we are also a generator of new knowledge. We are doing important research that spans a wide range of fields." 

Blue Economy
"We have another group that's been very strong which has been the underwater vehicle technology group. That's really a leading program that will create new ventures, new jobs and exciting new opportunities to expand research in the area." 

Business Engagement
"The University's Business Engagement Center was a fantastic idea. It is seeing a lot of sustained momentum. It is led by our colleague Katharine Flynn. She is doing a fantastic job of making the connections and very deep and meaningful connections. It is important to note that she's done a good job of building those partnerships that are going to be lasting and sustaining - both to have our students working with industry but also addressing the challenges and funding to attack real-world problems that are relevant and are going to have application in the coming years." 

Climate Change
"We have a time now to act. That's why our research is focused on the blue economy but also in thinking about questions about alternative energy, clean energy, renewable energy - not only wind but also there are opportunities with thinking about bio-fuels, thinking about solar."

"We have to think about how do we really change our whole economic and physical infrastructure to adapt rapidly now. We are in a very unique time with the support we see at the federal level to be able to invest in this area and to do the research that's needed. That's where the universities and that's where certainly URI is going to play a leading partnership role." 

Offshore Renewable Energy
"I am very proud that we have a leadership position here right now in Rhode Island. We have to seize the moment and continue to be leaders in the United States, to be partners. The opportunity right now for the state is real. This is the moment when URI and Rhode Island have to move forward in this area of the blue economy." 

Food Sustainability
"We're interested in thinking about how we're actually going to provide more food and be much more of a supplier as opposed to a consumer of food in the state. One of the things that was also enjoyable was going to the local farmer's markets, meeting the farmers and seeing their passion. They do a lot of good work around regenerative farming, around aquaculture and doing it in a sustainable way. So we're hoping in this coming year to really bring the community together to look more deeply into these important topics."