VCU's River Campus
The VCU Rice Rivers Center, VCU's river campus, supports scholarship and student instruction across diverse disciplines, including water resources, climate science, wildlife conservation and wetlands restoration.
Located midway between Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia along the historic James River, our 360 acres of riparian marshes, tidal creeks and mature forests represent a unique outdoor laboratory for important applied research and innovative, experiential classes. The center’s modern facilities offer offices, classrooms, laboratories and overnight lodging for students, faculty, visiting scholars and community groups. State-of-the-art technologies are deployed onsite to collect information on air and water quality, fish and avian migrations, changing sea levels and a host of other critical data sources. Our ongoing partnerships with state and federal natural resource and earth science agencies provide significant training opportunities for student scholars.
Science that matters to everyone
Popular Links
Summer 2026 @ Rice
FIRE Grant Projects
The Rice Rivers Center Faculty Instruction and Research Engagement (FIRE) Grants support instruction, training, and research that strengthen collaboration between VCU's main campus and the Rice Rivers Center. This year, FIRE grant recipients will initiate projects spanning topics such as art education, anthropology, and drone technology.
Student Engagement
This summer at Rice, VCU students have the opportunity to enjoy their classroom time outdoors. Several course offerings and scholarship opportunities provide students with vital field experience and unique learning opportunities.
Artists in Residence
The Rice Rivers Center welcomes several artists in residence to the field station this year. Artists including Jen Bockerman, Sara Wilson McKay, Sterling Hundley, and Jason Bennett will engage community members, faculty, and students to highlight how creative processes can enhance science.
News
May 22, 2026
Inger Rice, whose vision and support helped establish the VCU Rice Rivers Center, dies at 96
The Richmond-based philanthropist’s initial gift of 342 acres along the James River has bolstered life sciences education at VCU.
May 4, 2026
Six faculty members named 2025–26 Shift Labs Faculty Fellow Awardees
The Office of Innovation and Strategic Design initiative highlights creative and entrepreneurial educators who are shaping VCU and beyond.
March 13, 2026
VCUarts professor gives voice to a single atom’s journey
Sara Bouchard’s choral work, inspired by lab data from Rice Rivers Center leader Chris Gough, traces the earth’s carbon cycle and invites the audience to sing along.
Research and Restoration
VCU researchers and partners study the breeding biology of the prothonotary warbler along the lower James River using the project and its data to explore population genetics, disease and migration ecology, the role of song and plumage in reproductive fitness, and the impact of climate change on diet and timing of breeding.
