Il disegno dell'acqua. Una mostra di antichi progetti e documenti di opere idrauliche come contributo per una storia multidisciplinare dell'acqua

An exhibition of projects and documents on ancient hydraulic works in Sicily was hold recently in Catania under the initiative and organization of the Eastern Sicily Section of the Italian Hydrotechnical Association. The selection and the preparation of the exhibits moved from a basic concept of the engineering profession and of its nature and function in the society as a starting point. So, the present report is also the opportunity to express the view of the writers on this matter: engineering is not only “design and construction”, but it is the art of solving complex problems with the support of science and humanities which contribute to conceive and shape the solutions. This approach was the guidance to better understand the feeling, treatment and solution of water problems along history, also in sight of the challenge of problems which are still waiting for response. The need for a multi-disciplinary history of water is what comes out from the experience of this exhibition.