This doctoral thesis investigates how transdisciplinary approaches in sustainability science can more effectively bridge cultural boundaries, integrate different forms of knowledge, and generate impact beyond local contexts. Based on three interconnected research papers and an overarching framework study, the project moves from theoretical analysis to applied strategies for scaling sustainability solutions.

At its core, the thesis addresses the question: How can transdisciplinary sustainability research be designed, communicated, and adapted to integrate various forms of knowledge and amplify its impact across cultural contexts?

The first of the three research papers explores the dynamic relationship between contextual factors (such as institutional structures, cultural norms, or power relations) and the research formats used in transdisciplinary collaboration. It argues that processes such as building trust, navigating hierarchies, and encouraging inclusion emerge at the interfaces between context and method, shaping both outcomes and stakeholder engagement.

The second paper addresses the challenge of knowledge integration in transdisciplinary projects. Bringing together scientific, local, and indigenous knowledge can spark innovative solutions, but also brings about communicative and cultural challenges. Through a comprehensive literature review, this work highlights how communication practices – ranging from dialogue strategies to digital tools – play a crucial role in turning diversity into a source of strength rather than fragmentation. It proposes a conceptual framework for understanding how communication enables, and sometimes limits, collaborative knowledge production.

In the third paper, these insights are applied empirically by examining how successful local sustainability initiatives can be amplified and transferred across contexts. Through experimental replications in different cultural settings, practical strategies for scaling transdisciplinary approaches are developed without losing sensitivity to local realities. This contributes directly to the pressing need for a global shift from isolated solutions to systemic, widely applicable practices.

In summary, it is emphasized that transdisciplinary sustainability research is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a flexible process that requires sensitivity to context, strong communicative foundations, and strategies for impact beyond the local context. By combining theoretical depth with empirical validation, this dissertation advances our understanding of how transdisciplinary research can enhance both its practical effectiveness and its scientific robustness – ultimately contributing to the development of collaborative and scalable solutions to today’s complex sustainability challenges.

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