August: Following Teemer’s Knauss Fellowship Journey

In his August reflection, Knauss Fellow Teemer Barry shares highlights from his third month.

Read on to learn more about Teemer’s latest experiences and insights as he continues his fellowship journey.

August 2026 Update

The third month of the Knauss Fellowship was one characterized by meetings of each and every variety. Slowing down considerably from the excitement of July, August saw a more deliberate return to work on my primary deliverables. A string of events demanding the involvement of much of the leadership I had been working with left much of the collaborator organization mapping to sit unattended, leaving me to focus primarily on survey development. Of the meetings I pursued, roughly half centered around defining the merit of Social Network Analysis approaches to charting service delivery with NOS social scientists. My major takeaways from these discussions, beyond the demand that I read far more into our current service practices, were that a particular space existed across the organization for a framework to analyze many of the same things that I had been evaluating. In the other half of meetings, dedicated to learning about survey design and structure, the consensus was – once again – to read. I do not find this to be discouraging; however, these pieces of advice seem to outline a better-informed and actionable September.

 

Between the more conventional meetings of the month, a handful of afternoons were able to be organized into opportunities for informational interviews and some professional development. Probably my most anticipated meeting this month was my half-catch-up, half-informational interview with acting IOOS deputy director: Martin Yapur. We have talked a handful of times over the years, but presently being a part of the organization and the catalyst of July’s Biennial Science and Education Forum has created the perfect opportunity to connect more seriously. With my fondness for Rutgers’ Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS) partnership and long-held interest within ocean observation platforms, a chance to sit down and talk with someone closely tied to the execution of program needs at the highest level was beyond valuable. August also saw my participation in a multi-function career planning and networking workshop held by The Coastal Society. It was a nice opportunity to see how previous Knauss fellows have found their way in the larger world and which pathways to consider in the long run.