The Data Dyad are
Dr Euan
Bennet
Dr Heather
Cameron-Whytock
Euan and Heather are both academics with expertise in data science, epidemiology, and animal science. Their academic work together focuses on horse racing and equestrian sports. Their work has been implemented by sports governing bodies to protect horse welfare and improve safety for both horses and riders.
Euan was originally an astrophysicist before an unexpected move into veterinary epidemiology in 2015. His studies enabled him to develop as a highly skilled mathematician and since then he has used these skills to carve out a niche as one of the ‘go to’ academics for veterinary epidemiology research and statistics. He has worked on projects involving horses, donkeys, cats, dogs, and more. He also teaches statistics and research skills to undergraduate, postgraduate, and newly qualified veterinarians.
Heather spent many of her formative years riding, producing and competing eventing horses, these experiences drove Heather’s passion for the sport and led her to the work she does now. She studied equine science before completing a PhD in Sport and Wellbeing, where she focused on veterinary epidemiology in equestrian sport, as well as investigating stress in both horses and riders during competition. Heather has been an academic since 2019 and has quickly established herself as one of the most prominent researchers in the world for safety in equestrian eventing. She lectures at a veterinary school, teaching anatomy and physiology, applied exercise physiology, research methods and science communication.
Heather and Euan have been working together since 2020 and quickly formed a formidable working partnership and friendship (a Dyad). They both realised that each makes the other better at what they do, and have been creating opportunities to work together ever since.
Their work on improving safety in equestrian eventing has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and internationally recognised. They have worked with various industries including charities, sports governing bodies and academic collaborations. Past projects have included analysing survey data (both quantitative and qualitative), clinical trials, epidemiological studies and longitudinal studies.
What on earth is a Dyad?
Dyad is used in animal research to describe the relationship/bond between animals and people, so that’s directly relevant to a lot of our work, and also Euan & Heather are a dyad!
