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Knowledge co-production is widely seen as a promising approach for more innovative, durable, and democratic solutions to complex energy and climate problems. Successful knowledge co-production requires the authentic participation of all actors, experts included. By authentic participation, we mean receptivity to and valuing interactions and relationships with diverse actors; sharing power; and collaboratively identifying problems, solutions, and shaping research. In this Perspective, we highlight the importance of habits of mind involving routine styles of thinking and interacting common among some expert groups that inhibit listening, taking seriously, and seeing value in diverse perspectives. We argue that such habits of mind may impair the authentic participation of technoscientific experts, whose expertise is vital but insufficient for co-producing knowledge. We support this argument through a review of …