• Human Environment Geography and Social-Ecological Systems
• Climate change adaptation, vulnerability and resilience
• Community-based participatory research and stakeholder engagement
• Livelihoods and food security in a changing climate

• Water security and integrated water resource management
• Geographical information systems and spatial analysis
• Transdisciplinary and inter-transdisciplinary research (both terrestrial and marine)
• Qualitative and participatory approaches
• Stakeholder mapping and actor analysis

• Dr TA Mpala - ORCID

• Mpala, A. 2025. Stakeholder Dynamics in Melkhoutfontein, St Helena Bay and Bluewater Bay Report. University of Cape Town. Report - https://doi.org/10.25375/uct.28395248.v2Gammage, L., Mpala, A., Zeeman, Z., Norton, M. and Ward, D. 2025. Deliverable 2 : Preliminary Situational Analysis Report- with a focus on stakeholder analysis and Fisheries. Fisheries and Coastal Livelihoods Expert Group. Work Package 1. Boegoebaai Port Development and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Appendix E- Specialist Presentations – WP1 Draft Findings - https://share.google/5lPYznzZ3QDcCDilB

• 7th International Marine Conference (IMCC7) 2024. Thandiwe Annastacia Mpala and Louise C Gammage. From Methods to Reflections : Stakeholder Mapping and engagement in Melkhoutfontein and Beyond Marine Conservation. Department of Biological Sciences and Marine and Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation and Sustainability (MARiS) ; University of Cape Town - https://maris.uct.ac.za/articles/2024-11-01-making-marine-science-matter-imcc7-2024

• SANParks Garden Route Interface and Networking (GRIN) 2022 Presentation on Eco-ACE building multi-scalar adaptive capacity to ocean change by promoting ecosystems based adaptation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gIhwlb8GdA&ab_channel=ShareScreenAfrica

Professional Affiliations:

• Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA)
• Lloyds Water Security Network
• Eco-ACE

Awards:

• Water Security Scholarship - University of West England
• Postgraduate Merit Award - University of Witwatersrand

• Eco-ACE: Ecosystem Based Adaptive Capacity through Community Engagement Project (University of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela University and University of Western Cape) - www.ecoaceproject.co.za
• Boegoebaai Port Development and Special Economic Strategic Zone: Fisheries and Coastal Livelihoods. Work package 1 (Centre of Scientific Industrial Researchm Transnet and SANEDI - www.csir.co.za

• Assessing Marine Environmental Impacts and Livelihoods Disruption for Fisherfolk due to Pier Expansion at Durban Harbour, KwaZulu – Natal – under the Centre of Excellence under Professor Leonard (Principle Investigator) (UNISA- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship) 

• DR TA Mpala - PhD Thesis
• Dr TA Mpala - MPhil Thesis - Monash University Australia