University of Massachusetts

09/03/2026

A $15 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant is helping to bring new technology to New England's commercial fishing industry — with the goal of making fishing more sustainable while protecting the livelihoods that depend on it.

One of the projects supported by the grant will tackle a major challenge for fishermen: they often don't know what's in their nets until they bring them on deck.

Researchers at the UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science & Technology will develop a "third eye" camera system to give fishermen a look inside their nets underwater, helping them avoid unwanted bycatch and make more informed decisions about what they bring to shore.

It’s just another example of how UMass Dartmouth is using its leadership in marine science to advance innovation and strengthen New England’s blue economy.

The grant will fund a “third eye” camera system for fishing nets and autonomous robots for lobstermen.

09/02/2026

Boston’s waterways could play a major role in how we heat and cool buildings, and UMass Boston is helping explore that possibility.

The Boston Green Ribbon Commission has launched the Boston Area Thermal Energy Network (BosTEN) feasibility project to study how Boston Harbor, the Fort Point Channel, the Charles and Mystic Rivers, and the bedrock beneath them could provide thermal energy for heating and cooling universities, hospitals, and other large buildings.

UMass Boston brings decades of experience to the effort. Since 1974, the university has used a pumped-seawater cooling system to cool campus facilities, drawing water from nearby Savin Hill Cove.

Backed by a $500,000 Massachusetts Clean Energy Center grant, the year-long project will examine how thermal energy networks can lower emissions and energy costs, reduce strain on electric and gas infrastructure, and advance a more climate-resilient energy future for Boston.

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Mayor Wu, Secretary Tepper, Mass CEC CEO Downing, UMass Boston Chancellor Suárez-Orozco join for tour and launch event

08/31/2026

TIME has named UMass Dartmouth one of America’s Best Colleges.

The university ranks No. 3 among Massachusetts public universities and No. 8 among public universities in New England. The recognition places a strong emphasis on student outcomes, including graduation rates, earnings, and return on education.

Congratulations to the entire UMass Dartmouth community on this well-deserved recognition!

University ranks No. 3 among Massachusetts public universities and No. 8 among public universities in New England

08/28/2026

The University of Massachusetts Amherst's first state-designated early college program will begin Wednesday at Mount Everett Regional High School, giving students access to UMass courses from their high school classroom.

08/27/2026

President Trump’s cuts to research funding threaten to shrink the pipeline of highly educated graduates that has long given Massachusetts a competitive edge over other states.

08/27/2026

A $36,000 bid for a tour of Jay Leno’s famous garage became something much more meaningful for Terry Atamian.

The Jay Leno Garage Tour winner made the bid in honor of his late brother, Robbie, and he’s bringing Robbie’s son, Benjamin, along for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The proceeds from the bid will benefit the Professor Joseph Dorsey Memorial Scholarship at UMass Lowell, supporting physical therapy students.

It’s a story about family, generosity and a lasting commitment to UMass Lowell students.

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Terry Atamian, president of Atamian Honda, submitted a bid of $36,000 to win a tour of Jay Leno’s famed car collection in a fundraiser to support physical therapy scholarships.

08/26/2026

A decade at No. 1? We’ll eat to that.

UMass Amherst has been named No. 1 for Best Campus Dining in the nation by The Princeton Review for the 10th year in a row!

From globally inspired dishes to fresh, sustainable ingredients sourced from 100+ local producers, UMass Dining is the largest collegiate dining program in the country, serving more than 50,000 meals daily, nearly 9 million annually.

Here’s to 10 years at the top.

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The university also surges up 16 spots to No. 9 on The Princeton Review’s Top 50 Green Colleges list.

08/24/2026

Nearly 4,000 school-based health centers serve kids across the U.S. But how well do they actually work?

Dr. Michelle Trivedi of UMass Chan Medical School is leading the largest study of its kind to find out, thanks to a $3.86 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant.

Her team will analyze millions of visits to school-based and community health centers to see whether bringing care directly to schools can improve outcomes for children, especially those who face barriers to getting to a doctor.

The findings could help shape the future of school-based healthcare and inform where policymakers invest in care for kids.

https://bit.ly/4galXtF

Michelle Trivedi, MD’09, MPH, received a $3.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study school-based health centers.

08/20/2026

A tiny clam is making a big splash in New England waters.

A team of researchers from UMass Amherst, in collaboration with MIT Sea Grant College Program and the Center for Coastal Studies, has confirmed that the invasive Manila clam has established itself in Cape Cod and Boston Harbor.

And the discovery came about in a surprisingly simple way: with a text message.

That message led researchers to find living Manila clams and evidence that they’re reproducing in New England waters, the last region in the Northern Hemisphere where they had not yet established themselves.

Now, scientists are taking a closer look at how the clams could affect coastal ecosystems, native shellfish, and the species that depend on them.

https://bit.ly/4y9W1VI

A team of biologists led by UMass Amherst, MIT Sea Grant and the Center for Coastal Studies has discovered that the invasive Manila clam has established itself along the northwestern Atlantic coastline.

08/19/2026

For Regina Taylor, MPH, becoming the inaugural Huppert Community Health Scholar in Family Medicine is another milestone in her journey as a first-generation college student at UMass Chan Medical School.

Named in honor of the late UMass Chan faculty member Mick Huppert, MPH, the program provides medical students interested in family medicine with hands-on experience in community health, outreach, and leadership.

With mentorship from UMass Chan Professor Hugh J. Silk, MD, MPH, Taylor will develop resources to help connect patients with essential services beyond the clinic, including housing and food support.

“Being able to witness the great work that is happening in primary care and family medicine at UMass Chan and in the community...is really special.”
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Huppert Community Health Scholar in Family Medicine program gives medical students the chance to engage in community health, engagement and leadership experiences for four years.