'I glued myself to a crocodile': Scientists recount #fieldworkfails
We like to think science is a clean, futuristic pursuit, done by men in white coats in immaculate labs. But sometimes - especially in biology - you've got to head out there and poke around in the field.
It doesn't always go to plan.
Scientists have been sharing their disasters in the big bad real world with the #fieldworkfail hashtag, and boy, there are some disasters - from accidentally eating to being stranded in a strange land.
'I glued myself to a crocodile'
Accidentally glued myself to a crocodile while attaching a radio transmitter. #fieldworkfail
— Agata Staniewicz (@AgataStaniewicz) July 30, 2015
HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE. She says she "came to the conclusion glue and crocodiles don't mix (wire transmitter attachment is probably the way to go)".
Yes. That would be better. In fact, poor Agata seems to have bad luck when it comes to crocodiles.
Sank the boat in the middle of a crocodile survey. Twice. #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/cYSQ9DkA4F
— Agata Staniewicz (@AgataStaniewicz) July 30, 2015
'I'm a scientist, not a crazy person'
Decided to discreetly dissect mice right away in the "field", i.e. NYC park. Someone calls NYPD, cop points gun in my face #fieldworkfail
— self-deported to @urbanevol.bsky.social (@urbanevol) July 31, 2015
Getting lost is a whole new problem:
Group leader read a map wrong. We ended up a mile into an active USAF target range. Left very quickly. #FieldWorkFail pic.twitter.com/G4q2OoT6iL
— Trevor Valle ➡️ Arrakis (@tattoosandbones) July 31, 2015
Finding out the ground was not as stable as appeared #Askja #Fieldworkfail camerawoman took pic instead of helping pic.twitter.com/k3n9Y5Unne
— Alison Graettinger (@AlisonGraetting) July 30, 2015
When you lose any entire wheel on drive. I mean an entire wheel. #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/jumKxa0bZI
— Dr Kaggie Orrick (@KaggleRock) July 30, 2015
And you can find any good help, am I right?
Out on lake with students in rowing boats. Tell them to throw anchors overboard. 3 students forget to attach anchors to boat #fieldworkfail
— Chris Hassall (@katatrepsis) July 31, 2015
Pro tip: Do not eat ANYTHING while performing science
Discovering secret granola stash in field station = 🎁🎄🎉👍🏼! Realizing later 'flax seeds' actually weevils = #fieldworkfail.
— Aerin Jacob (@Aerin_J) July 30, 2015
Oh god. Sure, it's all protein, but.... oh god.
We're not sure whether we'd rather accidentally eat the leeches or deal with this problem:
Two words: giant leeches. If you need more: inside underwear. #fieldworkfail
— P Theron and animals (@pottytheron) July 31, 2015
Lick tiny object to discern if fossil/rock. Fossil. Sticks to tongue. Coughing fit from dust. Sharp inhale. Swallow fossil. #fieldworkfail
— Trevor Valle ➡️ Arrakis (@tattoosandbones) July 31, 2015
Then, there's always the problem of being in a strange land:
Get dengue fever. Try following monkeys anyway. Hip feels broken. Become delirious. Write in elvish all over field pants. #fieldworkfail
— Dr. Christopher Schmitt (@fuzzyatelin) July 31, 2015
This scene sound like it's straight from a sitcom:
Safety first!
Good grief. We should all have an appreciation for what these people put themselves through for the sake of science, right?
Check out other stories on the #fieldworkfail hashtag on Twitter, and give scientists a break. It's not all comfy lab chairs.
#fieldworkfail Tweets
