Think Tank
A space for discussion and inquiry. We explore the intersections of culture, ecology, technology, and society — asking the questions that matter about how people relate to each other, to place, and to the natural world.
Discussions
Can participatory design truly avoid extractive dynamics?
Even with the best intentions, researchers enter communities with power. How do we design frameworks that genuinely redistribute authorship and benefit?
Indigenous ecological knowledge and the limits of “sustainability”
The word “sustainability” assumes a system worth sustaining. What can indigenous knowledge systems teach us about regeneration instead of preservation?
AI in cultural research: tool, collaborator, or threat?
We’re using AI to process qualitative data, generate visual research, and map cultural patterns. But where does the human researcher end and the machine begin?
Durban as cultural laboratory: what the Indian Ocean teaches us about belonging
Growing up on the east coast of South Africa means growing up between cultures. This thread explores how coastal geography shapes identity differently from inland cities.
Ubuntu as methodology: beyond philosophy into practice
Ubuntu is often invoked as a concept but rarely operationalised as a research method. What would a genuinely Ubuntu-informed design process look like?
Fashion as environmental research: material culture and climate
When we study what people wear, we study their relationship to the land. Textile traditions encode centuries of ecological knowledge — how do we read them?
Building the AI Starter Course: what creative researchers actually need
We’re developing an AI course specifically for cultural practitioners. This thread collects input on what tools, frameworks, and ethical guardrails matter most.
Who gets to tell South Africa’s creative story?
The creative industries are booming, but the narratives are still shaped by a small number of gatekeepers. What does a more distributed storytelling infrastructure look like?
Collaborative Design Practice
Design is not something done for communities — it is something done with them. This domain explores participatory design methodologies rooted in African knowledge systems, where authorship is shared and outcomes serve collective needs.
Eco-Human Design Centered
How do we design with the Earth, not against it? This domain investigates the entangled relationships between human systems and ecological futures, drawing on indigenous ecological knowledge and contemporary environmental research.
AI Technology & Sciences
AI is transforming how we research, create, and communicate. This domain examines how emerging technologies can be integrated into cultural research workflows — ethically, practically, and with community alignment.
Geo-Political Climates
Geography is never neutral. This domain studies how political systems, borders, migration, and climate shape identity and cultural production across Africa and the Global South.
Join the Conversation
The AnthroWorks Think Tank is an open forum for researchers, creatives, and practitioners invested in culture, ecology, and the future. Sign up to contribute to discussions, access research threads, and connect with a community thinking critically about people and place.