The Polar Journal, which publishes policy-relevant research on polar affairs from across the social sciences and humanities, has recently released the article ‘Building transdisciplinary bridges and learning from the Svalbard context’ by Julia Olsen, Alexandra Meyer, and Lisbeth Iversen, Ulrich Schildberg, Ragnhild Holmen Bjørnsen, Grete K. Hovelsrud, James Badu, Dina Brode-Roger, Adriana Craciun, Hanne H. Christiansen, Lena Cappelen Endresen, Tiril V. Hansen, Simon Jungblut, Eystein Markusson, Aga Nowak, Ulla Timlin, Stein Sandven, Zdenka Sokolíčková, and Janne Søreide.

In this collective article, the authors examine the challenges and key enablers of transdisciplinary research in the context of Svalbard, providing methodological perspectives and recommendations. The interconnected climatic and socioeconomic changes in Svalbard call for collaboration across disciplines, as well as societal stakeholders. Such integrative research collaboration is conceptualized as a transdisciplinary approach. This approach emphasizes the need for continuous and holistic knowledge co-production and the sharing of relevant data across sectors, ensuring a robust foundation for informed decision-making and development strategies. However, navigating transdisciplinarity can be complex, as research often aligns with traditional disciplinary structures.

This paper emerged from a collaborative exchange on how to carry out transdisciplinary research in Svalbard, a process that proved productive for transdisciplinary knowledge production. It incorporates insights from two workshops where both researchers from diverse disciplines and non-academic stakeholders actively contributed to discussions and the development of this article.

Acknowledging the dynamic nature of transdisciplinary research, the authors present the themes that emerged from the workshops, categorized as challenges, opportunities, and best practices. These themes are then discussed in light of the democratic and pragmatic principles that underpin transdisciplinary research. The authors conclude the study by offering recommendations aimed at fostering further co-creation across disciplines and stakeholders from a transdisciplinary perspective.

The publication is open-access and can be read online here.