Terik Daly

Background

About Terik Daly

I am a planetary scientist, which means that I study the moons, planets, and small bodies in our solar system. I figure out how these objects formed and how they have changed through time. My research emphasizes the physical processes that affect small bodies (asteroids, comets, and some moons). I have focused on what happens when objects in our solar system crash into each other. Such collisions, called impacts, sculpt all solid bodies in the solar system. Consequently, impact cratering may be the most pervasive geological process. I use a combination of experiments, numerical models, and observations in my cratering investigations. I also develop shape models of asteroids, comets, and moons using a technique called stereophotoclinometry, and I am part of the team behind the Small Body Mapping Tool. Teaching is a key part of my professional identity. I have five years of experience at the pre-college and undergraduate levels. I teach learner-centered courses influenced by the latest research on how students learn. I also use technology as a tool to enhance student learning both in and out of the classroom.