This paper explores the challenges and key enablers of transdisciplinary research in the specific context of Svalbard, offering 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 conceptualised as a transdisciplinary approach. This approach emphasises a need for continuous and holistic knowledge co-production and relevant data-sharing 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, we present the themes that emerged from our workshops, categorised as challenges, opportunities, and best practices. These themes are then discussed in light of the democratic and pragmatic principles that underpin transdisciplinary research. We conclude the study by offering recommendations aimed at fostering further co-creation across disciplines and stakeholders from a transdisciplinary perspective.

Where expedition cruises can play a crucial role. Through the collective intelligence of resident communities and visitors, citizen science enables valuable data and information to be generated from local and outside sources of knowledge. This chapter outlines a citizen science pilot program of environmental monitoring by Arctic expedition cruises in Svalbard and Greenland during 2019 conducted to understand the potential this kind of environmental monitoring may have and to identify suitable approaches for enhancing data collection, management, and knowledge sharing. Observations are more likely to be used by decision-makers in the Arctic if records are analyzed and interpreted with a view to informing decision-making processes and if the findings are communicated to decision-makers in appropriate formats. An intermediary organization that can facilitate the dialogue and knowledge transfer between citizen science programs, scientists, and decision-makers is essential to ensuring that data actually enter the decision-making processes.

Significance StatementMeeting global challenges requires regional and local alignment of institutional and business practices. The purpose of our work is to understand, using qualitative systems analysis, how the Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved through local, cross-sectoral solutions. In this chapter, we start by reviewing the status quo of marine and coastal management in Norway and contrast with the United Nations’ expectations for localization of the Sustainable Development Goals. One key finding is that despite vast knowledge on ocean and coastal use and management, Norway has very few examples of actual localization of the Sustainable Development Goals. We present a case study from Andøy Municipality where we use Social-Ecological Systems mapping to spawn awareness and spur local businesses to harness relevant sustainability targets at the local level.

Effective responses to rapid environmental change rely on observations to inform planning and decision-making. Reviewing literature from 124 programs across the globe and analyzing survey data for 30 Arctic community-based monitoring programs, we compare top-down, large-scale program driven approaches with bottom-up approaches initiated and steered at the community level. Connecting these two approaches and linking to Indigenous and local knowledge yields benefits including improved information products and enhanced observing program efficiency and sustainability. We identify core principles central to such improved links: matching observing program aims, scales, and ability to act on information; matching observing program and community priorities; fostering compatibility in observing methodology and data management; respect of Indigenous intellectual property rights and the implementation of free, prior, and informed consent; creating sufficient organizational support structures; and ensuring sustained community members’ commitment. Interventions to overcome challenges in adhering to these principles are discussed.