National Sex Ed Conference Workshop Title: Sexuality Educators and Research; Finding, Using, and Conducting Research – Tips from the Life Work of a Sexual Health Educator and Researcher
- Who should come to your workshop, and why?
BW: This is a workshop for anyone who wants to learn more about how to find and use existing research and how to conduct their own research, if they chose. I will refer to SSSS, which has programs by researchers presenting the latest research, and mention journals where people can learn from research that is being conducted around the world. I’ll discuss how to find the research and how to use those findings to inform practice. I’ll also discuss how I got into sexuality education and research, established my own research lab, and the research we’re conducting now on sexual responses and pleasure. I have so much respect for sexuality educators, especially those who have an interest in research and finding ways to incorporate that into educational programs.
- What’s the biggest challenge you are struggling with right now professionally?
BW: My biggest challenge is tying to respect myself, take care of myself, and not do as much. Given recent health challenges, I’ve needed to scale back and I’m not able to be as involved as I once was. I still conduct research and speak when I can and am invited to do so.
- What do you do when you aren’t working?
BW: I love to travel and spend time with my husband and our family. I’ve been blessed to have been to 100 countries. I’ve always dreamed of going to Iceland, and the other 90 countries we haven’t visited.
- When you meet someone new how do you describe what you do?
BW: I talk about being an educator and a researcher and that my research concerns women’s health and women’s sexual health. My focus has been on validating women’s sensual and sexual responses and experiences in a research laboratory.