Shelby Hatch

Shelby Hatch (she/her) is a scientist focused on the intersections of chemistry, sustainability, and social justice. Shelby is a Weinberg College Adviser and an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Chemistry at Northwestern University. Her research incorporates environmental justice and Community/Youth Participatory Science (CYPS), which centers and involves community members and students in the entire research process, from creation of a hypothesis through disseminating results once data has been collected and analyzed. Shelby’s primary research focus is on the distribution of heavy metal contamination in Chicago in relation to where low socio-economic status and communities of color are located. She enjoys teaching undergraduate chemistry courses that incorporate sustainability and environmental justice into the curriculum. Shelby is also very passionate about teaching in the Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP). She developed a course and compiled an open educational resource textbook for her NPEP chemistry courses and has taught several cohorts of incarcerated men and women through NPEP. Shelby also frequently gives presentations (with hands-on opportunities) on subjects such as the chemistry of coffee, chocolate, and more! She received her BA from The College of Wooster and her PhD from The University of Rochester.