April 22, 2021

Media advisory: Students build working replicas of Roman machines

Reporters, photographers and news crews are invited to view two machines based on ancient Roman water wheels built by Southern Illinois University Carbondale engineering students, sponsored by the unique, interdisciplinary ancient practices program.  

The machines – one a grain mill and the other a water lifting “pump” – will be working and on display in the courtyard on the south side of the Engineering Building, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday. Students and program leaders will be on hand to demonstrate the machines and talk about their function and purpose, as well as the ancient practices program.

The ancient practices program grew out of a $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2019. It focuses on broadening the perspective of students studying objective disciplines – such as science, engineering, technology and mathematics – by demonstrating the relevance of the humanities to their own interests. The program leads to a minor in ancient practices. 

For more information, contact Mont Allen or Ken Anderson at ancientpractices@siu.edu or call Tim Crosby 618-534-3045.