Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.5751/ES-16491-300407
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Meaningful transdisciplinary collaborations for sustainability: local, artistic, and scientific knowledge
Author Mesa-Jurado, M.A.; Novo, P.; Calderon-Contreras, R.; Pereira, L.M.; Bisht, V.; Boffi, L.; Dalla Torre, C.; Gianelli, I.; Gutiérrez Sánchez, C.; Österblom, H.; Strand, M.; Tengö, M.; Vervoort, J.M.; Balvanera, P.
Source Titel Ecology and Society
Year 2025
Department NSF
Volume 30
Issue 4
Page From art. 7
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords art-science; epistemological pluralism; local knowledge; transdisciplinary collaborations; transformative change
Abstract Meaningful transdisciplinary collaborations that weave diverse ways of knowing, doing, and feeling are increasingly recognized as central for enabling just and sustainable transformations. This Special Feature explores the unique contributions of art-science transdisciplinary collaborations in addressing complex social-ecological challenges. Drawing from a series of transdisciplinary projects, we examine how co-created processes between scientists, artists, and local knowledge holders foster new relational dynamics, challenge entrenched power structures, and expand the space for transformative action. The collaborations documented here highlight innovative approaches that emphasize local identities, shared values, emotional and aesthetic engagement, and long-term, caring relationships. We identify key mechanisms, such as participatory visioning, storytelling, material deliberation, and arts-based boundary objects, that facilitate individual and collective agency and deepen connection with place and community. Despite significant challenges, such as time constraints, power imbalances, and institutional inertia, these experiences illustrate the transformative potential of art-science collaborations when designed ethically, reflexively, and with epistemological pluralism. This editorial offers critical insights into the practices, conditions, and innovations that support meaningful art-science engagement, providing guidance for evaluating their impacts. As planetary crises intensify, such collaborations offer hopeful, grounded, and imaginative pathways toward more just and sustainable futures.
Mesa-Jurado, M.A., Novo, P., Calderon-Contreras, R., Pereira, L.M., Bisht, V., Boffi, L., Dalla Torre, C., Gianelli, I., Gutiérrez Sánchez, C., Österblom, H., Strand, M., Tengö, M., Vervoort, J.M., Balvanera, P. (2025):
Meaningful transdisciplinary collaborations for sustainability: local, artistic, and scientific knowledge
Ecol. Soc. 30 (4), art. 7 10.5751/ES-16491-300407