One of my favorite parts about visiting the marble mines was learning the stories of the people that work there. As a bioengineer with a focus on rehabilitation, it is important for me to look at the human side of things. Working in the mines has always been a dangerous job, especially with the weight of marble and difficulty of removing clean slabs from the mountain. Unfortunately, due to the danger of this job, injury and even death became a normal occurrence. As tragic as this was, it led to some incredible innovations in the rehabilitation sector. Mine communities developed basic prosthetics (see below) and were intentional about supporting their injured neighbors. It is truly inspiring to look at the simplistic prosthetics developed in Carrara that were often carved from the wood of fig trees. Overall, I found this trip insightful and education. I truly enjoyed my time in Carrara and everything we learned while there.
Swanson School of Engineering 