Jay Irwin, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology in the department of sociology and anthropology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), will talk about the science of transgender at the next Omaha Science Cafe at 7 p.m. on June 9 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St.
He will be joined by Sofia Jawed-Wessel, Ph.D., assistant professor of public health-health education at UNO and the assistant director of the Midlands Sexual Health Research Collaborative.
Dr. Irwin received his doctorate in medical sociology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2009. His research focuses on lesbian health, transgender health, mental health, transgender identity, and the social categories and social construction of sexual and gender identity.
Dr. Irwin serves as co-chair for the campus wide LGBTQ Task Force and a member of the Safe Space Training Committee. He also is an associate director of the Midlands Sexual Health Research Collaborative at UNMC.
Dr. Jawed-Wessel received her doctorate degree in health behavior in 2012 and her master’s degree in public health in 2008 from Indiana University. Dr. Jawed-Wessel has collaborated on several projects and manuscripts related to women’s and men’s sexual health including sexual behaviors during pregnancy, sexual functioning after childbirth, condom development and use, the use of sexual enhancement products, sexual pleasure, and pelvic and genital pain in women.
Science Cafes involve a face-to-face conversation with a scientist about current science topics. They are open to everyone (21 and older) and take place in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. Each meeting is organized around an interesting topic of conversation. A scientist gives a brief presentation followed by a question and answer period.
For more information about Science Cafes, click here. Podcasts of previous Science Cafes also are available on the website or available for download on iTunes here.