Fear of Failure

Do you see the tiny green film at the bottom of the beaker in the picture above?  This extremely small clump of green stuff is a diatom sample weighing less than 20 milligrams that I need to carefully process and guard with my life for carbon isotope analysis. If I lose any of this sample or ruin a procedure, I will likely have to spend several weeks waiting for a new culture to grow and start over again.


Thoughts that have been running through my mind recently include:

• What if I lose any of my sample while transferring it between beakers?
• What if it spills?
• What if a piece of hair lands in it? (note: things like hair and dust can ruin stable isotope samples)
• Despite how many methods papers I read, I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. What if I dry the sample too long, or add too much acid or completely miss a secret step that isn't described in any journal articles?
• WHY IS THIS FILTER FALLING APART? WHY? NOOOOO!!!!! 

Failure and data loss can happen at all stages of the scientific process. Maybe a storm destroys your field equipment, maybe someone steals a field instrument to sell it for scrap metal, maybe a boater decides to move that heavy metal box they found that happens to be collecting your data, maybe your computer crashes and you lose months of data analysis... and maybe, just maybe, the worst thing that could possibly happen occurs: you give a horrible thesis or dissertation defense.

Although science (and academia in general) demands perfection, failure does occur. It's likely the reason why journal articles published in 2010 can be about studies conducted in 1998- some sample was lost along the way and work needed to be redone. As scientists, we are expected to quickly move on from mistakes, learn from them, and start over again, whether the starting over sets us back days or years.

For now, I will hold on to these backup "diatom leftovers" that probably aren't usable but give me a false sense of security.

Grad Students, Scientists and Researchers: What is the worst lab mistake or scientific failure you ever made? What was the strangest way you have lost data or ruined samples? How did you get over these mishaps?

Rising star in FCE

I would like to introduce you to a new rising star in the FCE, Sara Osorio! She has been working with FCE LTER Education and Outreach coordinator, Mr. Nick Oehm, and our lead PI, Dr. Evelyn Gaiser. Her research project is about the diatoms found in the wetland restoration area of the Deering Estate (Biscayne Coastal Wetlands Project).

Sara Osorio, FCE LTER High School Researcher at the FIU Periphyton Lab

Sara is currently a junior in high school. She became involved in FCE research because she was always fond of her science classes, including AP Biology. Through the recommendations of Mr. Oehm, Sara became one of our newest high school researchers.

Sara is working with Dr. Gaiser in the Periphyton Lab at FIU as a LTER high school research assistant, where she is receiving personal instruction on all the necessary aspects of a real scientific research study: field sampling, laboratory procedures, diatom identification, and microscopy. Later, there will likely be data analysis, poster making, and writing advice, too!

Through collaboration with the Deering Estate, Sara and Dr. Gaiser made a trek through the coastal wetland restoration area to collect periphyton samples across a fresh water to marine water transect. This area used to be the location of a mansion, as well as a Native American burial ground, now being rehabilitated to its natural state. Sara enjoyed the field sampling experience, as she has always loved to be out in nature, even though it required her to get a bit down and dirty (she made sure to wear old jeans that day). One part of the transect was full of hairy, slimey, filamentous algae - but even that could not stop Sara.

Sara sampling hairy, slimey, filamentous algae at the Deering Estate

Sara sampling with Chris Sanchez, FCE and CAP LTER undergraduate researcher

Sara learned how to process these samples in the lab. She remembers how cool it was to see the bubbling and foaming reaction of periphyton when you pour acid on them - a necessary step in cleaning samples for diatom identification.

Currently, Sara is learning to become an expert in microscopy and diatom identification. She says this step has been the most challenging part of her research experience so far because there are so many details on a diatom cell that you need to look at for identification. However, she thinks it is very cool to see things under the microscope that not many people get to see.

Pleurosigma, diatom identified and photographed by Sara

In the future, Sara aspires to continue her studies in biology. She is also keeping her options open for opportunities in the medical field, especially through the military services. Sara expresses her gratitude for the opportunities she has found through FCE, especially the personal guidance by a professor. She is a great example of how future scientists can get an amazing head start through scientific education and outreach programs. Not to mention, the Periphyton Lab is thrilled to have such a bright and motivated student working with us!

Sara sampling coastal periphyton with Dr. Evelyn Gaiser

Graduate students and PIs: There are amazing young scientists like Sara who are willing to work in your lab for free! Be sure to contact Nick Oehm if you are interested in having your own rising star.

High school and undergraduate students: Research experience is rare and looks extremely impressive on any college or graduate school application. Not only do you learn a lot, you also enter into a network consisting of your mentor and their colleagues. Their word of recommendation means a lot! Don't miss these opportunities!

Hidden Microscopic World

My research is on the diatom communities of the Everglades. These silicious, environmentally sensitive algae like to live buried within a complex biofilm called periphyton.With the naked eye, periphyton just looks like muck or scum. But there is a hidden microscopic world that is quite fascinating and even beautiful.

Everglades periphyton magnified 1000x: filamentous cyanobacteria and a diatom

Coccoid and filamentous cyanobacteria

Calcite crystals on filamentous cyanobacteria

The cells of Utricularia, bladderwort (a carnivorous aquatic plant)

Rod shaped bacteria

Cosmarium, a green algae

Diploneis, a diatom

Nematode that wouldn't sit still for its photo