Unconscious Currents

Conservation is often seen as a data-driven, objective practice, yet the way we interpret and act on environmental challenges is deeply shaped by our unconscious mental models and cognitive biases. These hidden influences affect everything from policy decisions and funding priorities to community engagement and public perception. Understanding them is key to ensuring more inclusive and effective conservation efforts.

This interactive workshop building on the concept of "Water Bodies", facilitated by marine scientist and venture development lead  by Thando Mazomba, will challenge participants to reflect on how their personal experiences, cultural narratives, and cognitive shortcuts shape their understanding of the ocean and its conservation.

Through guided exercises and thought-provoking discussions, attendees will explore how their perspectives influence decision-making—often without them realising it. The session will introduce fundamental concepts from behavioural psychology and decision-making science, helping participants uncover why certain conservation choices feel intuitive while others face resistance. Drawing from real-world examples and psychological frameworks, the workshop will highlight how unconscious biases shape conservation strategies, including who is seen as an "ocean expert" and whose voices are often excluded. Participants will also engage with a practical decision-making model that reveals the step-by-step process behind forming assumptions and drawing conclusions.

By slowing down and questioning these thought patterns, they will gain insight into how small shifts in awareness can lead to more equitable and adaptive conservation approaches. Through a mix of self-reflection, interactive exercises, and group discussions, this workshop will encourage participants to recognise and challenge their existing mental models. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a new awareness of how human psychology influences conservation decisions, as well as practical tools to think more critically and inclusively in their conservation work.

Expect a dynamic and thought-provoking experience that will shift perspectives and inspire more mindful, inclusive decision-making in ocean conservation.

Each session consists of 20-minute presentations, followed by a joint Q&A session of 15 minutes.

ABOUT THANDO MAZOMBA

Thando is the Venture Development Lead of OceanHub Africa, the first and leading Pan-African ocean-impact enabler for blue entrepreneurship. Thando has a background in Marine Biology, Physical Oceanography and Environmental Sciences. She completed her MSc in Applied Ocean Sciences at the University of Cape Town, focussing her research on the analysis of climate model results in the Antarctic using historic humpback whale catch data.

In her quest to understand and contribute to a thriving socio-economic and socio-ecological society through the marine sector, Thando also completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business. She has worked across industries in the marine field as a business development lead as well as an oceanographic technician and marine scientist for CLS Southern Africa; as well as in socio-ecology having been the co-director at The Beach Co-Op.

Thando is an ocean custodian at her core, and works to contribute to an ocean that is not only healthy and resilient, but is inclusive of all communities. Underpinned by her drive to be a vessel for transformation, she hopes to bring light to the intersectionality that exists within the marine conservation space. In her free time, when Thando is not enjoying dives and swimming with various community members, she enjoys quiet moments and time spent reading, hiking and camping. She also taps into her many interests of community engagement through volunteering and consulting in marine-related workshops, educational content creation as well as public speaking.