Dipterist

Click for salary, education, & more: Dipterist (dipterista)

As you saw a bit of in the virtual job shadow video above, flies have compound eyes. It’s like having hundreds of mini eyeballs! Here’s a fun activity to see life through a fly’s eyes to inform your work as a dipterist!

STEP 1: Using simple things around your home or classroom, set up an obstacle course. Whatever you have on hand is fine – chairs, blankets, pillows, books, etc. Make it fun!

STEP 2: Get 30 straws. Split them in half to make two bundles of 15 straws each.

STEP 3: Tie the two bundles of straws together with rubber bands. These will now be your ‘fly eyes’!

STEP 4: Be the fly! Try to ‘fly’ through your obstacle course using your fly eyes.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Do NOT hold the straws right up to your eyeballs. Keep a few inches distance between the straw bundles and your eyes. Also, WALK through the obstacle course, do NOT run.

STEP 5: Finished the first round? Make your obstacle course more challenging and try it again!

STEP 6: How does this activity relate to life as a fly? How can this experience help you as a future dipterist? Post a video of your game in action and your answers to these questions in the Student Showcase to build your resume!