The TRANSENS project investigated how transdisciplinary research can be applied to the final disposal of high‑level radioactive waste (HLW) in Germany. The study focused on the interaction between scientific expertise and the lived experience of non‑academic stakeholders, aiming to bridge gaps between technical, legal, ethical and societal perspectives. The research was carried out through a series of workshops, interviews and dialogue sessions that involved scientists (WISS) and non‑academic participants (BGM). The project was organised within a German research framework that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, and it ran over several years, engaging a broad network of partners from academia, civil society and industry.

Scientifically, the project produced several key findings. First, it demonstrated that the inclusion of non‑academic voices enriches the scientific discourse by introducing practical concerns and ethical considerations that are often underrepresented in technical studies. Participants reported a deeper understanding of interim storage and final disposal options, noting that the transdisciplinary process helped clarify the complexity and time‑scale of HLW management. Scientists, in turn, gained new insights into the societal implications of disposal decisions, which informed the design of more transparent communication strategies. The project also highlighted the importance of soft skills—such as mediation, abstraction of complex issues and public speaking—in facilitating dialogue between experts and the public. Many BGM participants expressed that the process increased their confidence in scientific institutions and broadened their knowledge of nuclear waste issues, while scientists reported improved abilities to translate technical information into accessible language for diverse audiences.

The research identified that contributions from the humanities and social sciences were particularly valued, especially in areas such as philosophy, law, and political science, whereas contributions to natural science disciplines were less pronounced. Nevertheless, the interdisciplinary workshops led to the co‑creation of new research questions and the refinement of existing models of HLW disposal. The project also produced a set of guidelines for integrating stakeholder knowledge into scientific decision‑making, emphasizing the need for a problem‑solving orientation that aligns knowledge production with key policy decisions. These guidelines were disseminated through both academic publications and popular‑science outlets, ensuring that the findings reached a wide audience.

Collaboration within TRANSENS was structured around a working group dedicated to “dialogues and process design in the interaction of law, justice and governance.” The group coordinated the exchange of expertise between scientists and stakeholders, organised the interview and workshop schedules, and managed the dissemination of results. The partnership model relied on equal participation, with scientists providing methodological and technical support and stakeholders contributing experiential knowledge and facilitating community engagement. The project’s funding came from a national research programme that supports transdisciplinary studies, enabling the allocation of resources for travel, workshop facilitation and the production of multilingual communication materials. Through this collaborative framework, TRANSENS was able to produce a comprehensive assessment of how transdisciplinary approaches can be effectively applied to the complex challenge of HLW disposal, offering a template for future research projects in the field.