The scientific work of Nyström is captured by four broad research streams: Research that explores the resilience and non-linear dynamics (i.e. thresholds, alternative states) in ecosystems Research that identifies and explores the role of feedback mechanisms that trigger and/or reinforce particular ecological states and social-ecological trajectories Research with the aim to operationalize resilience With human social processes increasingly connecting people and life-support systems in ever more distant geographic locations, the fourth research strain has as an objective to disentangle cross-scale driver interactions in marine social-ecological systems, and among production ecosystems across sectors. This includes exploring how global biophysical (e.g. climate change) and socioeconomic (e.g. trade, financialization, human migration, technology, communication) interconnectivities emerge, interact, and shape the humans-biosphere relationship – and how this builds or erodes resilience at a global scale. In this work he collaborates with colleagues from disciplines including ecology, economics, sociology and development studies.