Staff profile

Simon joined the Sociology Department in 2019. He had previously worked at Newcastle University and between 2014 and '17 was Head of the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health at Durham. In his early career he taught in secondary and further education before occupying advisory and management positions in health promotion targeting young people. The focus of this work, on HIV/Aids prevention and sexual health promotion has underpinned his academic career. His Masters degree involved empirical research into the dance and drug cultures of the period, HIV/Aids prevention for young people and gender, sexuality and health. An increasing interest in the relational dimensions of young people’s experience was reflected in his doctoral research which explored teenagers’ experiences of being in love.

He has worked on a number of studies and evaluations focusing on various aspects of young people’s sexual attitudes and lifestyles. He was a Research Fellow in the Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases at University College London and worked on the RIPPLE study – assessing the impact of peer-led sex education targeting young people and continues to research and write about gender, sexuality and sexual health with a specific interest in the experiences of and interventions with boys and young men.

These substantives topical interests are coupled to a commitment to educating people about health including supporting health professionals and groups and communities to identify and address their needs. In his time at UCL Simon was involved in supporting medical students who initiated their own programme of peer-led community-based sexual health promotion and was involved in establishing a similar programme at St George’s Medical School.

Throughout his career Simon has contributed to under- and post-graduate teaching as well as training programmes for professionals in health, welfare and education. He offers to supervision to postgraduate research students in fields cognate to his own and mentors Post-doctoral researchers. He also contributes to a variety of national and international expert groups, advisory committees and conferences, is a regular reviewer for the ESRC, NIHR, MRC and other major funders as well supporting from the Board one of the world’s most effective charitable information providers around HIV/Aids – AVERT and the Boys Development Project. Simon Co-chairs the UK’s national network of Behavioural and Social Scientists Teaching in medicine (BeSST).

• The sexual attitudes and behaviour of young people
• Sexual health promotion and education
• Sexuality and gender, especially young masculinities
• The social and cultural context of emotional experience

• Health and Social Theory

• Learning to Doctor: exploring the role of non-clinical community-based placements in medical educartion

• 0000: 2012 Higher Education Academy International Scholar:
• 0000: Chair of BeSST (Behavioural and Social Scientists Teaching in medicine) :
• 0000: Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award, Durham University:
• 0000: Honorary Senior Lecturer in Adolescent Sexual Health: St George’s Hosipital Medical School and Kingston University
• 0000: In April 2011 Simon was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award by Durham University:
• 0000: Member of College of Experts, NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme:
• 0000: Trustee and secretary of AVERT (The AIDS Education and Research Trust):
• 0000: Visiting Fellow: Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 1997-2006

Authored book

• Forrest, S. Blake, S & Ray, C. (2003). Sex and Relationships Education A guide for independent schools and those working with them. London: National Children's Bureau.
• Lloyd, T., Forrest, S. & Davidson, N. (2001). Boys and young men’s health Literature and practice review: An interim report. London: Health Development Agency.
• Forrest, S., Biddle, G. & Clift, S. (1997). Talking about homosexuality in the secondary school. Horsham: AVERT.

Chapter in book

• Forrest, Simon (2015). Peer Education. In Health Promotion Practice. Nutland, Will & Cragg, Liza Maidenhead: Open University Press. 151-164.
• Forrest, Simon & Welling, K. (2012). Sex education: theory and practice. In Sexual Health: A Public Health Perspective. Wellings, K., Mitchell, K. & Collumbien, M. Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw Hill. 148-160.
• Forrest, Simon. (2011). Straight Talking: Challenges in teaching and learning about sexuality and homophobia in schools. In Education, Equality and Human Rights. Cole, M. Routledge. 128-158.
• Forrest, S. & Ellis, V. (2011). The making of sexualities: Sexuality, identity and equality. In Education, Equality and Human Rights. Cole, M. Routledge. 101-127.
• Forrest, S.P. & Kanabus, A. (2009). Sex Education That Works. In Issues: Sexual Health. Firth, L. Cambridge: Independence. 173: 31-34.
• Forrest, S. & Nash, T. (2007). Difference and diversity as determinants of health. In Public Health and the School Age Population. DeBell, D. London: Hodder Arnold. 37-56.
• Forrest, S. (2007). Work-life balance in the UK The experiences of fathers in a New Town in the UK. In Men and work life balance in Europe. Gaborit, P. Brussels: European New Town Project Publications.
• Forrest, S. & Ellis, V. (2006). The making of sexualities sexuality, identity and equality. In Education, Equality and Human Rights: issues of gender, ‘race’, sexuality and social class. Cole, M. London: Routledge. 89-110.
• Forrest, S. (2006). Straight talking: challenges in teaching and learning about sexuality and homophobia in schools. In Education, Equality and Human Rights: issues of gender, ‘race’, sexuality and social class. Cole, M. London: Routledge. 111-133.
• Forrest, S. (2004). ‘They treated us like one of them really’ peer education as an approach to sexual health promotion with young people. In Young people and sexual health: Individual, social and policy contexts. Burtney, E. & Duffy, M. Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 202-216.
• Forrest, S. (2003). The implications for research. In Young Gay Men Talking: Key issues and ideas for action. Blake, S. London: Working With Men. 62-67.
• Abramowitch, G., de Bruckere, S. & Forrest, S. (2003). Cultural diversity. In Similar to others, yet different in many ways: HIV/Aids Prevention: a cultural diversity approach. Vermeer, V. & Walter, J Woerden: Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
• Strange, V., Forrest, S. & Oakley, A. (2001). A listening trial 'qualitative' methods within experimental research. In Using Research for Effective Health Promotion. Oliver, Sandy & Peersman, Greet Buckingham: Open University Press. 138-153.
• Forrest, S. (2000). It's for girls really boys' participation in school-based sex education. In Changing families, changing communities researching health and wellbeing among children and young people. Ryan, Helen & Bull, Julie London: Health Development Agency. 110-123.
• Clift, S. & Forrest, S. (2000). Tourism and the sexual ecology of gay men. In Tourism and sex Culture, Commerce and Coercion. Clift, S. & Carter, S. Leicester: Pinter. 179-199.
• Clift, S. & Forrest, S. (2000). Gay tourism, sex and sexual health promotion. In Masculinities Leisure cultures, identities and consumption. Horne, J. & Flemming, S. Eastbourne: Leisure Studies Association. 69.
• Forrest, S. & Clift, S. (1998). Gay tourist space and sexual risk behaviour. In Gender, Space and Identity Leisure, Culture and Commerce. Aitchison, C. & Jordan, F. Eastbourne: Leisure Studies Association. 63: 163-176.
• Prendergast, S. & Forrest, S. (1998). 'Shorties, low-lifers, hard-nuts and kings' boys, emotions and embodiment in school. In Emotions in social life critical themes and contemporary issues. Bendelow, G. & Williams, S. London: Routledge. 155-172.
• Prendergast, S. & Forrest, S. (1997). Hieroglyphs of the heterosexual learning about gender in school. In New Sexual Agendas. Segal, L. London: Macmillan. 180-195.
• Biddle, G. & Forrest, S. (1997). Sex Education for Boys in Secondary Schools. In Let's hear it for the boys supporting sex and relationships education for boys and young men. Lenderyou, G. & Ray, C. London: Sex Education Forum.

Conference Paper

• Forrest,S. & Russell, A. (2011), Linking community placement to Tomorrows Doctors’ outcomes for public health,, Public Health Education in Medical Schools. Guys Medical School, Guys Medical School.
• Forrest, S. (2010), Heterosexual young men in love: the role of paternal influences on expectations and experiences of intimate relationships with young women, Questioning Maculinities. Open University, Open University.
• Forrest, S. (2010), Young men in love: Little cultural worlds and emotions, Emotions Seminar Series. Edinburgh University: Centre for Research on Families and Relationships, 24th February Edinburgh University, Centre for Research on Families and Relationships.
• Forrest, S. (2009), The production of young sexualities: the role played by images and imagery of the body in health and sexual educational texts, Taking the Body Seriously’ Association for Medical Humanities. University of Durham.
• Russell, AJ & Forrest, SP (2009), Learning to doctor: the community placement as a site for developing medical students’ understanding of the socio-cultural dimensions of health and healthcare, C-SAP Annual Conference Roles, Rights and Responsibilities: Negotiating Relationships. Jury’s Inn Hotel, Birmingham, England., Jury's Inn Hotel, Birmingham.

Edited book

• Cronberg, A., Haour-Knipe, M., Dafesh, Z., Forrest, S. & Broring, G. (2007). Community needs community responses: trend reports on migration and HIV/AIDS in Europe. Woerden, Netherlands: Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NIGZ).
• Forrest, S. & Reid, D. (2001). HIV/AIDS Prevention for Young People Models of Good Practice from the European Member States. Utrecht: Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention.
• Forrest, S. & Vermeer, V. (1999). HIV Prevention for young people European Information Centre 'AIDS and Youth'. Utrecht: Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention.

Journal Article

• Ahmaro, Lara, Lindsey, Laura, Forrest, Simon & Whittlesea, Cate (2022). Investigating community pharmacists’ perceptions of delivering chlamydia screening to young people: a qualitative study using normalisation process theory to understand professional practice. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 30(6): 507-513.
• Insan, Nafisa, Weke, Anthony, Rankin, Judith & Forrest, Simon (2022). Perceptions and attitudes around perinatal mental health in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: a systematic review of qualitative data. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 22(1).
• Insan, Nafisa, Weke, Anthony, Forrest, Simon & Rankin, Judith (2022). Social determinants of antenatal depression and anxiety among women in South Asia: A systematic review & meta-analysis. PLOS ONE 17(2): e0263760.
• Serou, Naresh, Husband, Andy K., Forrest, Simon P., Slight, Robert D. & Slight, Sarah P. (2021). Support for Healthcare Professionals After Surgical Patient Safety Incidents: A Qualitative Descriptive Study in 5 Teaching Hospitals. Journal of Patient Safety 17(5): 335-340.
• Alonso-Martínez, Laura, Heras-Sevilla, Davinia, Fernández-Hawrylak, María & Forrest, Simon (2021). English Validation of a Short Scale Designed to Detect Negative Attitudes towards Trans People (EANT). Sustainability 13(7): 3760.
• Serou,N, Sahota,L, Husband,A, Forrest,S, Slight,R & Slight,S (2021). Learning from safety incidents in high-reliability organizations: a systematic review of learning tools that could be adapted and used in healthcare. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 33(1): 1-9.
• Serou, N, Slight, S P, Husband, A K, Forrest, S P & Slight, R D (2021). Surgical incidents and their impact on operating theatre staff: qualitative study. BJS Open 5(2): zraa007.
• Ahmaro, Lara, Lindsey, Laura, Forrest, Simon & Whittlesea, Cate (2021). Young people’s perceptions of accessing a community pharmacy for a chlamydia testing kit: a qualitative study based in North East England. BMJ Open 11(9): e052228.
• Idris, Deeni R., Forrest, Simon & Brown, Sally (2019). Health help‐seeking by men in Brunei Darussalam: masculinities and ‘doing’ male identities across the life course. Sociology of Health & Illness 41(6): 1071-1087.
• Hough, Amy, Bryce, Maggie & Forrest, Simon (2018). Social media and advertising natural contraception to young women: the case for clarity and transparency with reference to the example of ‘Natural Cycles’. BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health 44(4): 307.
• Forrest, Simon (2017). Teaching social science research methods to undergraduate medical students. Teaching Public Administration 35(3): 280-300.
• Dobson, E., Beckmann, N. & Forrest, S. (2017). Educator–student communication in sex & relationship education: a comparison of teacher and peer-led interventions. Pastoral Care in Education: An International Journal of Personal, Social and Emotional Development 35(4): 267-283.
• Thandi, C.S., Forrest, S.P. & Williamson, C. (2016). The role of early inter-professional and inter-agency encounters in increasing students’ awareness of the clinical and community context of medicine. Perspectives on Medical Education 5(4): 240-243.
• Forrest, Simon. (2010). Young men in love: the (re)making of heterosexual masculinities through ‘‘serious’’ relationships. Sexual and relationship therapy 25(2): 206-218.
• Strange, V., Forrest, S., Oakley, A., Stephenson, J. & & the RIPPLE Study Team. (2006). Sex and relationship education for 13–16 year olds: evidence from England. Sex Education 6(1): 31-46.
• Twine. C. Robbé, I. J. Forrest, S. & Davies, S. (2005). A needs assessment in South Wales schools for a novel medical student-led sex education programme. Sex Education 5(2): 137-152.
• Stephenson, J., Strange, V., Forrest, S., Oakley, A., Copas, A., Allen, E., Babiker, A., Black, S., Ali, M., Monteiro, H., Johnson, A. & & the RIPPLE study team. (2004). Pupil-led sex education in England (RIPPLE study) cluster-randomised intervention trial. The Lancet 364 (9431): 338-346.
• Forrest, S. Strange, V. Oakley, A. & & The RIPPLE study team. (2004). What young people want from sex education? The results of a needs assessment from a peer-led sex education programme. Culture, Health & Sexuality 6(4): 337-354.
• Oakley, A., Strange, V., Stephenson, J. Forrest, S., Monteiro, H. & & the RIPPLE Study Team. (2004). Evaluating Processes A case study of a randomized controlled trial of sex education. Evaluation 10(4): 440-462.
• Bonell, C.P.,, Strange, V.J.,, Stephenson, J.M.,, Oakley, A.R.,, Copas, A.,, Forrest, S.P.,, Johnson, A.M., & Black, S. (2003). Effect of social exclusion on the risk of teenage pregnancy development of hypotheses using baseline data from a randomised trial of sex education. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 57(11): 871-876.
• Strange, V., Forrest, S. Oakley, A. & & The RIPPLE Study Team. (2003). Using research questionnaires with young people in schools: the influence of the social context. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 6(4): 337-346.
• Strange, V., Oakley, A. Forrest, S. & & the Ripple Study Team. (2003). Mixed-sex or single-sex sex education how would young people like their sex education and why? Gender & Education 15(2): 201-214.
• Stephenson, J.M., Oakley, A., Johnson, A.M., Forrest, S., Strange, V. Charleston, S. Black, S. Copas, A. Petruckevitch, A. & Babiker, A. (2003). A school-based randomized controlled trial of peer-led sex education in England. Controlled Clinical Trials 24(5): 643-657.
• Forrest, S., Strange, V.,, Oakley, A., & & the RIPPLE team. (2002). A Comparison of Students' Evaluations of a Peer-delivered Sex Education Programme and Teacher-led Provision. Sex Education 2(3): 195-214.
• Strange, V., Forrest, S., Oakley, A., & & the RIPPLE team. (2002). Peer-led Sex Education characteristics of peer educators and their perceptions of the impact on them of participation in a peer education programme. Health Education Research 17(3): 327-337.
• Strange, V., Forrest, S., Oakley, A., & & the RIPPLE team. (2002). What influences peer-led sex education in the classroom? A view from the peer educators. Health Education Research 17(3): 339-349.
• Forrest, S. (2000). ‘Big and Tough’ Boys learning about sexuality and manhood. Sexual Relationships Therapy 15(3): 247-261.
• Clift, S. & Forrest, S. (1999). Gay Men and Tourism Destinations and Holiday Motivations. Tourism Management 20(5): 615-625.
• Clift, S. & Forrest, S. (1999). Factors Associated with Gay Men’s Sexual Behaviour and Risk on Holiday. AIDS Care 11(3): 281-295.
• Forrest, S. (1997). Confessions of a Middle-Shelf Magazine Shopper. Journal of Contemporary Health 5: 10-13.
• Forrest, S. (1996). Girls, boys, drugs and trouble does gender matter? Images YMCA Journal of Reflective Practice 2(1): 20-23.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

• Kendall,K, Collett,T, de longh,A, Forrest,S, Kelly,M & Harden,J (2020). Does covid-19 offer opportunities for medical students to apply sociology to clinical practice? theBMJOpinion

Other (Print)

• Wight, D. & Forrest, S. (2010). CRFR Briefing Paper 50: The Quality of Young People’s Heterosexual Relationships.

Report

• Harden,J, Collett,T, Forrest,S & Kendall,K (2021). Assessing sociology and psychology in UK undergraduate medical education: Square peg in a round hole? MedEdPublish.
• Howse, L., Shand, T., Braeken, D. & Forrest, S. (2010). Men are changing: Case study evidence on work with men and boys to promote gender equality and positive masculinities. London, UK, International Planned Parenthood Foundation.