Applied physicist joins faculty, begins research

Lauren Sutherland Guest Writer

When asked about his earliest experiences with science, new Assistant Professor of Physics Brian Daly gave a response that was quite unusual given his current occupation as a physics teacher. “You know, I didn’t love any science I took in high school until I met a teacher who really emphasized the presence of science in all aspects of life and taught me to think of it as a mathematical description of the world around us,” he recalled.

It was this profound respect for the universality and practicality of science that inspired Daly to pursue a career in physics, a career that would ultimately lead him through the gates of Vassar College and to the threshold of the Sanders Hall of Physics and Astronomy.

Daly is one the newest additions to the Vassar faculty. In addition to assuming professorial duties, the self-described “applied physicist” will conduct research in the fields of optics and nanoscience, research which involves using lasers to study the nanostructures found in all computers and microprocessors.

Daly grew up in the town of Brockton, MA, and received an undergraduate degree in Physics from Holy Cross College in Worcester. He then went on to Brown University, earning a Graduate’s degree in Physics.

Before graduate school, Daly participated in a summer program at Philips-Andover Academy in Massachusetts, where he taught advanced physics to underprivileged students from both rural and urban settings.

“I found the summer program so fulfilling that I almost stopped there, but I decided that I really wanted to teach physics at a higher level and therefore needed to continue with my own education,” said Daly.

While Daly applied to a variety of other institutions, Vassar seemed like a natural choice. “My positive experiences in a liberal arts environment, where one can receive a broad-based education without compromising the pursuit of individual goals, really attracted me to the Vassar campus,” said Daly.

Daly acknowledged that refinements to his teaching style are likely with the maturation of his career, but was nonetheless very clear about the emphasis that he tries to place upon the applicability of physics to both the great and the mundane.

“I really try to insert the ‘why’ into what I’m teaching, and feel that giving students a sense of realistic purpose tends to relieve some of the tediousness of mathematics and abstract theory,” said Daly. He works to accomplish this task by giving students opportunities for active participation and taking the time to “ground” each lesson by explaining how many physics theories might be applied to everyday life.

Daly was struck by the unique qualities of Vassar and its students even before securing his professorial post. “I had to sit down with a panel of physics majors during my interview,” said Daly. “Even though they were graduating before I would even have begun to teach, they posed a lot of incisive questions and were very interested in finding a truly qualified candidate. I was really impressed by the students’ concern for the future of the department, and feel that Vassar students as a whole seem more invested in their educations than do the students at a lot of other schools.”

While his experience at Vassar has been positive, Daly has been subject to the rigors of adapting to his challenging academic environment. “This first month has been tiring,” he said. “When I prepare for each class, I know that each student demands and deserves excellence. I have to come to each class self-assured and knowing that I’m going to present the material in the best way that I possibly can.”