Celebrating Failure

I will be discussing the experiment I am currently working on in my lab and the various trial and error we endured while finding the materials and methods that work for us.

When I first started the bed bug project I am currently working on, I was conducting the project in a completely different way than I am now. My first two trials were a failure and very little data was obtained from these trials.

Trial 1: My trial consisted of 16 immature bed bugs. Two of these bugs died from being incorrectly handled. I attempted to feed all of the bed bugs on rabbit blood imported from California. The majority of the bugs did not like this blood, and about 1/2 of the bugs died.

Trial 2: I fed a new grouping of 16 bugs on one of the lab chickens. None of the bugs died this time after feeding; however, some bugs still died from being handled incorrectly.

Trial 3: I decided to use a paintbrush – rather than tweezers – to pick up the bugs for weighing. Bed bugs are easily "spooked," and can die of stress or fear if handled. The tweezers were stressing these bugs out. Once I used the paintbrush to pick up these bugs to weigh them, I experienced no casualties. 

I learned a lot about these insects through this trial and error. I, as well as my PI, were unaware that tweezers could have such an impact on bed bug health. The smaller, younger bugs are now handled with paintbrushes in the lab. I also learned that scientific experiments take a long time to conduct. If one trial is expected to take a month, this trial will most likely take three months to conduct. There are always factors that you cannot control in an experiment.

I don't see failure as something to fear or avoid. I believe everyone fails at first when they try something new. I was not a great student when I first entered UF, and I was not a great lab technician when I started my job; however, I have learned from my mistakes and am now a good student and lab technician. It is okay to fail as long as you don't give up.