From Dog Walks to Data Trails

Dog walking is one of the most popular ways people enjoy the outdoors, bringing benefits like exercise, stress relief, and a stronger connection to nature. But it can also have unexpected impacts on wildlife, livestock, and other countryside users. This talk explores how everyday dog‑walking habits shape the environments we share—and how small changes can help us protect nature while still enjoying time outside with our dogs.

Health headlines seem to pop up every week, but where do these “new” discoveries actually come from? Dive behind the scenes of modern medical research and uncover what really happens when enormous public health datasets are mined again and again for fresh findings. With powerful tools like generative AI speeding up analysis, we’re producing studies faster than ever—but not always better. This talk reveals how repeated, rushed, or redundant research can muddy the waters, why it matters for trust in healthcare, and how the system might need to change.