Nena Lehrschall
The Salty Seabag
The Origins of Human Resilience: Tool Use as a Crisis Response
This seminar traces humanity’s legacy of resilience, from the earliest stone tools of Homo habilis to ancient practices of social care, exemplified by a 15,000 year-old healed femur bone. By examining how early humans used tools and empathy to respond to crises, we’ll uncover a tradition of foresight and adaptability that underpins modern disaster preparedness. Drawing on historical examples from Egyptian flood controls to Roman infrastructure, we’ll discuss how today’s disaster response tools continue this legacy, bridging communication gaps, reducing response times, and fostering community resilience for the future.