81 Swimming upstream: teaching resilience and research skills through sperm biology and “fail forward” learning

The Fertility Science First-Year Innovation & Research Experience (FIRE-FS) at the University of Maryland engages undergraduate students in sperm metabolism research, using a “fail forward” learning approach to inspire the next generation of reproduction researchers and advocates. Since 2022, program participants have evaluated industry-standard bovine samples (donated by North American Breeders) to gain skills in microscopy, immunofluorescent staining, metabolic assessment, and sperm-specific analysis of motility and morphology. Many students have little or no experience with reproductive research and bring unbiased creativity to the laboratory. In their first semester, students learn discipline basics through a thoughtfully designed series of training documents and practical exercises. They then work in teams to formulate testable hypotheses and write novel research proposals informed by current literature. During their second semester, students carry out their projects in a space where they can fail forward by pursuing radical new ideas with minimal risk. This model for undergraduate teaching gives students ownership of their research and, to date, has produced results that suggest seasonal differences in sperm metabolism, an optimal concentration of a nontraditional antioxidant to maintain sperm metabolism following cryopreservation, and the localization of sperm-specific GAPDH enzymes. In conclusion, the FIRE-FS program is leveraging the experimental advantages of andrology to train the next generation of scientists, while advancing reproductive research, recruiting new colleagues, and opening the door to discovery.