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When scientists step outside their safe laboratories, anything can happen. Of course, studying wild animals or digging out million-year-old fossils sounds exotic and exciting, but that's only one side of the spectrum. The other side is sometimes gross and scary but mostly it's hilarious. In 2015 scientists started sharing their most embarrassing #Fieldworkfails, and recently French illustrator Jim Jourdane has decided to compile the most memorable ones and turn them into amusing whimsical drawings.

From gluing yourself to a crocodile to walking in a thunderstorm with a 10 feet (3 metre) aerial, these moments show us that science is full of hilarious trainwrecks, too. Jourdane interviewed all scientists whose stories were included in his book to get a better understanding of their fieldwork and its details. "I talked to [them] I realized that there's a lot of problems of communication with the general public about how they work, what they do," he told Gizmodo. Thus, he tried to make his visual anecdotes available to everyone: "Eleven year old children, my grandmother, friends, scientists."

More info: fieldworkfail.com | Facebook

#1

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Jim Jourdane Report

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John L
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope you had the good sense to anesthetize the fellow BEFORE applying the glue. :D

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#2

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John L
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm curious Angela, how did you manage to mark the jaguar's territory sign? And then stick around his territory for three weeks. Perhaps the big cat was trying to mate with you? ;D

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#4

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earringnut
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so the urge to tp trees is innate in primates. that explains alot.

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Nancy E
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You needed to call the Charmin bears. They would have protected their T.P.

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Pamela Storer
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have this mental image of a group of baboons nearly falling out of the tree laughing!!

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Rabbitt209
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Baboons after my own heart. One of my favorite pastimes in high school! ;-)

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Peter Kehoe
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did an educated scientist just misspell "roll"? Where was the editor?

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Jim Jourdane
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It has been corrected more than 2 years ago :D The edited version is here fieldworkfail.com/book/ ;)

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rreaction avatar
Peter Kehoe
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did a real scientist just misspell "roll"???? Where was the editor?

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Blue Cicada
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought tp'ing was a 1960's American thing. It clearly is an ancient, primitive behavior. (To tp is to spread toilet paper across a person's lawn, trees, shrubs, etc.)

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#7

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John L
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This cartoon does not represent the circumstances. The vials exploded because the suitcase was stored in a non-pressurized compartment. Passenger compartments are always pressurized, and this would not have happened.

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#10

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Jim Jourdane Report

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#13

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selket
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't worry, you'll get it back.... in about a day or two.... Just don't lick it afterwards! :D

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#15

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selket
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So... did the elves save you after finding your pants with the message? :D

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#16

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Ben Smith
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a bridge over a river you thought you could jump across?? Either youre VERY optimistic or the bridge is very short

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#17

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Virgil Blue
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those bees should have tiny question marks over their heads in the picture.

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#21

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Vlad Horobet
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't believe this one is real. Seems more like cartoon. How can you not see a damn elephant? xD

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#22

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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd've been completely naked. Forget modesty, I've got some parts I consider higher up the "don't get bitten" ladder.

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