We sometimes think of scientists as calculated, precise people in white lab coats, buzzing around their controlled experiments and complicated models. But as anyone who’s actually worked in science will tell you, field work is often messy – incredibly messy for that matter. A new hashtag has taken Twitter by storm: #FieldWorkFail. Here are some of the best ones.
First off, it’s the crocs:
Accidentally glued myself to a crocodile while attaching a radio transmitter. #fieldworkfail
— Agata Staniewicz (@AgataStaniewicz) July 30, 2015
I should add that the croc lost the transmitter within 24h. Was supposed to stay on for a month. #fieldworkfail https://t.co/ICKSFUFEgd — Agata Staniewicz (@AgataStaniewicz) August 2, 2015
As it turns out, Agata had even more fieldwork fail moments with crocs, but thankfully, nothing bad happened:
Sank the boat in the middle of a crocodile survey. Twice. #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/cYSQ9DkA4F
— Agata Staniewicz (@AgataStaniewicz) July 30, 2015
Turns out, biologists often have a bad time in the field:
1988: Went to Jamaica to collect insects. Hurricane Gilbert also went to Jamaica. Our insect traps probably went to Mexico #fieldworkfail — Terry Wheeler (@ta_wheeler) July 31, 2015
When your drugged zebra finds the ONE tree on the Namibian plains, which also has a neck-height fork #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/2iUx2uxGNB
— Carrie Cizauskas (@CarrieCizauskas) August 3, 2015
Skillfully applied thousand dollar satellite tag to manta ray. The same manta ray I tagged yesterday #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/xHR1agskar — Dr. Alistair Dove (@AlistairDove) July 31, 2015
When you are collecting cheetah poop and drop some on yourself. #fieldworkfail #distractinglysexy pic.twitter.com/RvgHfauQ6P
— Anne Hilborn (@AnneWHilborn) July 30, 2015
Sometimes, the fails can become really dangerous.
Tire falls off in deep sand at dusk in Botswana bush. Spare has wrong bolt pattern…was that a lion? #fieldworkfail pic.twitter.com/Yf445Rr7h9 — J. Tyler Fox (@jtylerfox) August 4, 2015
Accidentally pee on a Jaguar´s marked tree. Get chased by the jaguar for 3 weeks, might sound exciting, actually quite scary #fieldworkfails
— Angela Maria Bayona (@AngelaBayonaV) August 3, 2015
Any respectable geologist has had his fair share of fails.
Rough, passing supplies from boat. Case of beer fell in sea. Dangled field leader by ankles. Retrieved beer, lost leader. #fieldworkfail ? — Hannah Grist (@hgloki) July 31, 2015
We may have put a wee bit too much tracer in the river. #FieldWorkFail pic.twitter.com/TACp1SPxwG
— Danielle Wain (@dellewain) August 1, 2015
I’m happy you all enjoy my misery. Sadists. ;D #paleontology pic.twitter.com/qqSnlbSJD1
— TSV (@tattoosandbones) August 1, 2015
…and there goes my Friday. Can’t stop reading (and ROFLing) at #fieldworkfail! https://t.co/G1ZMuwKbhh
— Dr. Christie Wilcox (@NerdyChristie) July 31, 2015
Caught in thunderstorm, ditched metal auger to be safe. When I got back remembered I was wearing GPS backpack with 3m aerial. #fieldworkfail
— Frank Swain (@SciencePunk) July 31, 2015
Once I got very excited to find some bones in a trench, thinking it may have been a midden, then the KFC wrapper emerged. #fieldworkfails
— Andy Baader (@PostAntiquarian) August 4, 2015
The hashtag is just spectacular – it shows just how down to earth scientists can be, it humanizes them, and it’s really funny.
You know #FieldworkFail is really cool evidence that lots of dedicated people are busting butt trying to do v. difficult things for #Science
— Dr. Alistair Dove (@AlistairDove) July 31, 2015
…and there goes my Friday. Can’t stop reading (and ROFLing) at #fieldworkfail! https://t.co/G1ZMuwKbhh
— Dr. Christie Wilcox (@NerdyChristie) July 31, 2015
This #FieldWorkFail hashtag is great. I love how unglamorous science can be.
— Scary Dan (@scarydan) July 31, 2015
I am pleased at how many #fieldworkfail posts involve exposed butt cracks. And pee. I want to be a scientist.
— elana scherr (@challengeher) July 30, 2015
So, what’s your #FieldWork Fail?