Mapping ethnoscience in multidisciplinary research over the last two decades: A bibliometric analysis

Ethnoscience has become increasingly relevant in addressing contemporary challenges, evolving into a multidisciplinary domain with growing academic interest, particularly over the last two decades. This study aims to analyse ethnoscience research published in the period 2000 to 2024 within the Scopus database. Unlike standard bibliometric studies, this study enhances its analysis by incorporating a descriptive review of the most locally cited articles. This approach provides deeper contextual insights into how ethnoscience is applied across many disciplines, offering a broader understanding of its development, trends, and impact on scientific advancements. The findings show a steady increase in scholarly contributions, with a notable peak in 2021. International collaboration trends show that 16.22% of publications involve global partnerships, reflecting the field’s expanding academic network. Thematic development highlights strong connections between ethnoscience, STEM education, and applied learning contexts, demonstrating its relevance in modern pedagogical frameworks and scientific innovations. Regarding influential scholars, “Sumarni W” leading in publications, whereas “Olson K” achieving high citation impact. Geographically, several Indonesian universities also emerges as leading affiliaiatons in ethnoscience research. It underscores that Indonesia, the USA, and Brazil are the most prolific contributors to ethnoscience research, with the USA dominating citation influence. Keyword analysis reveals a predominant focus on local wisdom, scientific literacy, and emerging health-related applications, indicating ethnoscience’s evolving research directions. Knowledge structure analysis emphasises ethnoscience’s role in bridging diverse disciplines and fostering global academic collaborations. Despite a consistent rise in publications, further studies should focus on improving quality, refining methodologies, broadening interdisciplinary applications, and strengthening global academic networks to enhance the field’s impact and sustainability.