In 2024, Beyond Benign and ChemFORWARD developed and launched a three-unit educational module that provides access to the chemical hazard data repository.

ChemFORWARD and Beyond Benign have partnered to introduce educators and students at academic institutions participating in the Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) to chemical hazard data, thereby improving decision-making through comprehensive human and environmental hazard information. 

Posted on the Green Chemistry Teaching & Learning Community (GCTLC) and titled "Use of ChemFORWARD for Chemical Hazard Evaluation and Assessment in Academic Settings," the module can be utilized by all educators on the platform, with a specific focus on higher education, including undergraduate and graduate students. 

The modules helps educators use the platform to enrich syllabi for chemistry, green chemistry, toxicology, or related courses, empowering students to review comprehensive chemical hazard data when (1) assessing the safety and sustainability of incumbent chemicals and (2) identifying safer functional alternatives. This three-unit module was designed to introduce students to chemical hazard assessment as a key tenet of green and sustainable chemistry. Students learn how to use the central repository of CHAs to understand hazards associated with chemicals of concern, as well as identify safer functional alternatives to use instead.

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Explain the difference between hazard and risk.

• Explain the criteria used to assess chemical hazards.

• Recognize that everything is made of chemicals and that even naturally occurring chemicals can be hazardous.

As the NextGenChem Funders Alliance grows, new modules will be devleoped and posted.