In the face of increasingly complex societal challenges – such as climate change, disruptive technologies, and resource scarcity – there is a growing call for innovative research approaches that help generate both scientifically sound and socially relevant knowledge for problem-solving. In this context, transdisciplinary research, which is characterized, among other things, by equal collaboration between different academic disciplines and stakeholder groups from other social domains to jointly address complex social and scientific challenges, is gaining in importance, particularly in the field of sustainability research.

From an epistemological perspective, this research mode raises interesting questions, such as the effective integration of different types of knowledge, the epistemic status of transdisciplinary knowledge, or the generalizability of case-specific solutions, but also questions about the relationship between scientific rigor and societal applicability of transdisciplinary findings. At the same time, communicative aspects are considered crucial for the success of transdisciplinary research, significantly influencing research practices and the co-production of knowledge. Relevant topics in this context include communicative barriers in transdisciplinary collaborations, the development of specific research and communication methods, and the use of digital communication tools to support transdisciplinary integration processes.

Although these topics are all considered in the academic discourse on transdisciplinarity and studied individually, a systematic investigation of the interactions between epistemological features and communicative processes in transdisciplinary sustainability research remains lacking. This cumulative dissertation project addresses this gap by asking: What interactions exist between epistemic and communicative aspects of transdisciplinary sustainability research and how can these interactions be utilized to increase the effectiveness of transdisciplinary sustainability research in terms of scientific knowledge gains and social problem-solving strategies?

By analyzing the interactions between epistemic and communicative processes, this doctoral project aims to generate generalizable findings for advancing the theory and practice of transdisciplinary sustainability research and thus increase its scientific and societal impact. Ultimately, a better understanding of the epistemological and communicative foundations of transdisciplinary research can contribute to the scientific and socio-political legitimacy of recommendations for action on sustainability transformation, while also enabling more effective integration of corresponding arguments into public and policy discourses.

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