The Human Resilience Project
At The Human Resilience Project, our mission is to explore and enrich human wellbeing in a dynamic global environment.
We go where resilience is forged, where human life is sometimes on the margins and survival depends on community. Our research happens in the field, shoulder to shoulder with the people whose knowledge has carried them through centuries of upheaval. Our first two expeditions carried the legendary Explorers Club Flag 12 and a Rolex watch, recognition that our work pushes into truly uncharted territory.
What We Do
We combine fearless exploration with rigorous research, including Indigenous and non-Western methods. Each expedition immerses us in the daily lives of Indigenous and often marginalized communities, where we document resilience strategies embedded in culture, ritual, and story. By bringing this wisdom into dialogue with contemporary, research methods and embedded in reciprocity and non-Western ways of knowing, we develop mental health solutions that are both culturally rooted and frequently, globally relevant.
Why It Matters
As climate change accelerates, it doesn’t just transform landscapes; it reshapes the human spirit. People who are overwhelmed by adversity very often do not take action. They freeze and become hopeless. Communities worldwide face rising trauma and loss, yet they also hold the keys to survival and adaptation. By going to the frontlines of these changes, The Human Resilience Project uncovers how traditions, spirituality, and collective practice strengthen wellbeing in the face of upheaval, and how those lessons can guide us all. We can become a driving force for change both in communities and globally.
The Road Ahead
Our journey continues. Upcoming expeditions will take us to Paraguay, where the Guaraní respond to forced displacement with a worldview of tekoha (land) as the source of life and wellbeing; to Bhutan, where the Bhutanese thrive in the high Himalayas; across Scandinavia with the Sámi, keepers of Arctic knowledge; and into Sumatra (Indonesia) where Batak communities, conservationists, and rangers confront forest decimation and fight for orangutan conservation amid persistent deforestation. Each expedition deepens our understanding of resilience while contributing to a global network of knowledge and practice.
Beyond Discovery
We are committed to the co-creation of knowledge and understanding, seeking to bring forward Indigenous knowledge and enhance paths to health for all humankind. We co-create educational programs when called for and foster cross-cultural exchanges that carry resilience strategies around the planet. By amplifying voices too often silenced or disregarded, we turn exploration into action and knowledge into lasting change.
Be Part of the Work and Build Your Resilience
Graduate students can join our work through the California Institute for Human Science, while researchers and collaborators are invited to connect directly with Dr. Scharff through this site. Members and Fellows of the Explorers Club and like groups are also encouraged to collaborate. Individuals follow us on social media, to keep up with our expeditions and learn tips to improve your personal wellbeing. Together, we can chart new pathways to global mental health and resilience, one expedition at a time.
The Human Resilience Project
At The Human Resilience Project, our mission is to explore and enrich human wellbeing in a dynamic global environment.
We go where resilience is forged—where human life is sometimes on the margins and survival depends on community. Our research happens in the field, shoulder to shoulder with the people whose knowledge has carried them through centuries of upheaval. Our first two expeditions carried the legendary Explorers Club Flag 12 and a Rolex watch, recognition that our work pushes into truly uncharted territory.
What We Do
We combine fearless exploration with rigorous research, including Indigenous and non-Western methods. Each expedition immerses us in the daily lives of Indigenous and often marginalized communities, where we document resilience strategies embedded in culture, ritual, and story. By bringing this wisdom into dialogue with contemporary, research methods embedded in reciprocity and non-Western ways of knowing, we develop mental health solutions that are both culturally rooted and frequently, globally relevant.
Why It Matters
As climate change accelerates, it doesn’t just transform landscapes; it reshapes the human spirit. People who are overwhelmed by adversity very often do not take action. They freeze and become hopeless. Communities worldwide face rising trauma and loss, yet they also hold the keys to survival and adaptation. By going to the frontlines of these changes, The Human Resilience Project uncovers how traditions, spirituality, and collective practice strengthen wellbeing in the face of upheaval, and how those lessons can guide us all. We can become a driving force for change both in communities and globally.
The Road Ahead
Our journey continues. Upcoming expeditions will take us to Greenland, where the Kalaallit navigate life on shifting ice; to Bhutan, where the Drukpa thrive in the high Himalayas; across Scandinavia with the Sámi, keepers of Arctic knowledge; and into Hawai‘i, where Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) blend ancient wisdom with modern challenges. Each expedition deepens our understanding of resilience while contributing to a global network of knowledge and practice.
Beyond Discovery
We are committed to the co-creation of knowledge and understanding, seeking to bring forward Indigenous knowledge and enhance paths to health for all humankind. We co-create educational programs when called for and foster cross-cultural exchanges that carry resilience strategies around the planet. By amplifying voices too often silenced or disregarded, we turn exploration into action and knowledge into lasting change.
Be Part of the Work and Build Your Resilience
Graduate students can join our work through the California Institute for Human Science, while researchers and collaborators are invited to connect directly with Dr. Scharff through this site. Members and Fellows of the Explorers Club and like groups are also encouraged to collaborate. Individuals follow us on social media, to keep up with our expeditions and learn tips to improve your personal wellbeing. Together, we can chart new pathways to global mental health and resilience, one expedition at a time.