Science: It's not all crisp lab coats and bubbling beakers.
When you are collecting cheetah poop and drop some on yourself. #fieldworkfail #distractinglysexy pic.twitter.com/RvgHfauQ6P
— Anne Hilborn (@AnneWHilborn) July 30, 2015
It's actually messy as heck.
Over the past few days, scientists have been sharing their most embarrassing fieldwork flubs with the #FieldWorkFail hashtag on Twitter.
It's delightful -- and educational!
Some scientists in the field have to contend with charismatic mega-fauna who don't always cooperate.
For 20% of my camera traps, this was their fate: death by elephant #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/7egiXCsv1G
— Aditya Gangadharan (@AdityaGangadh) July 31, 2015
While tracking large alligator, remarked to colleagues, "Wow, these tracks look really fresh!" Looked up. "Oh, there it is." #fieldworkfail
— Anthony J. Martin (@Ichnologist) July 31, 2015
And sometimes they make gross mistakes.
Forgot weight belt. Put rocks in my shorts for ballast. Rocks covered in fire coral #fieldworkfail
— Dr. Alistair Dove (@AlistairDove) July 31, 2015
Suspect you have found asbestos tile in unit. Ask fellow archaeologist. They put the tile in their mouth. (it was asbestos) #fieldworkfail
— C. E. M. Henderson (@cemhend) August 5, 2015
When you collect a shallow sediment core through a buried bag of poop that's a #fieldworkfail
— Christopher Esposito (@crabioscar) August 5, 2015
Lick tiny object to discern if fossil/rock. Fossil. Sticks to tongue. Coughing fit from dust. Sharp inhale. Swallow fossil. #fieldworkfail
— TSV (@tattoosandbones) July 31, 2015
Just now drank a beer out of a glass I had used to photograph spiders earlier today. Hope I got all them out of there. #fieldworkfail
— Phil Torres (@phil_torres) July 31, 2015
Transportation issues abound.
On the first day of field work for my MS thesis, my car got stuck on some train tracks and yes, got hit by a train. #FieldWorkFail
— David Steen, Ph.D. (@AlongsideWild) July 31, 2015
The first time I hiked to active lava flows in HI, I melted the soles of my boots. Then I went through water and they shrank. #fieldworkfail
— Jessica Ball (@Tuff_Cookie) July 30, 2015
Sank the boat in the middle of a crocodile survey. Twice. #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/cYSQ9DkA4F
— Agata Staniewicz (@AgataStaniewicz) July 30, 2015
#fieldworkfail for #icephoto Wednesday: the time I tried to jump a glacial stream but fell in it instead! #greenland pic.twitter.com/zPc1faBqY4
— Ellyn Enderlin (@glacier_doc) August 5, 2015
Swimming after run-away boat in croc-infested waters #fieldworkfail @stri_panama pic.twitter.com/7PJ1qoenkk
— Diana Sharpe (@sharpe_diana) August 5, 2015
Glue is apparently a big issue.
Accidentally glued myself to a crocodile while attaching a radio transmitter. #fieldworkfail
— Agata Staniewicz (@AgataStaniewicz) July 30, 2015
Not a crocodile but I accidentally glued myself to a very angry crab. #fieldworkfail #Igluedmyself @AgataStaniewicz pic.twitter.com/OeIzUfLWVR
— P. Sean McDonald (@pseanmc) July 31, 2015
Illusive lizards are apparently a problem, too.
See a salamander, while going to catch it see a different salamander, get distracted, catch zero salamanders #fieldworkfail
— Nick Caruso (@PlethodoNick) July 30, 2015
A lizard that had eluded capture for weeks jumped on my head and ran down the entire length of me. I still couldn't catch it. #fieldworkfail
— Ambika Kamath (@ambikamath) July 30, 2015
And even if most of the science you do happens inside, things can still go horribly awry.
I've never done fieldwork so I can't contribute to #fieldworkfail but I was once involved* in a lab fire at Caltech. *totally not my fault
— Katie Mack (@AstroKatie) August 1, 2015
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