Prof. Noelle Eckley Selin

Professor Selin's research focuses on using atmospheric chemistry modeling to inform decision-­making strategies on air pollution, climate change and toxic substances including mercury and persistent organic pollutants. She has also published articles and book chapters on the interactions between science and policy in international environmental negotiations, in particular focusing on global efforts to regulate hazardous chemicals and persistent organic pollutants.

Research aims to inform sustainable management approaches to atmospheric pollutants, through understanding the processes and interactions of global environmental contamination from a systems perspective. Specifically, we develop new tools to better understand and quantify the pathway by which emissions of toxic substances travel and transform in the atmosphere to impact humans and the environment away from sources. The ultimate goal is to inform sustainability transitions. This research addresses fundamental scientific questions about the atmospheric behavior of contaminants, while addressing the engineering challenge of designing analytical tools to inform management strategies. Research addresses a conceptual system in which human activities create emissions, pollutants are then transported near and far, leading to human exposure and eventual health impacts. These human and environmental impacts lead to economic consequences and policy responses (including regulation) which can then modify emissions. The research examines all of the aspects of this system, and develops new modeling tools including fast-running model emulators to help understand interactions and feedbacks.

The lab's work has recently been funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Biogen, Inc., and the MIT Superfund Center as well as through MIT’s Climate Grand Challenges.