Embodiments of the present invention describe hybrid aerogels comprising polymers covalently bonded to an inorganic network and methods for preparing the same. The inorganic network may comprise silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, ceria, yttria or a combination thereof, where silica is the preferred embodiment. The polymers preferably comprise chitosan, pyrrolidine complex of chitosan or any other derivatives of chitosan that are soluble in water, ethanol or combinations thereof.