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This review essay examines five Spanish-language books published in Latin America on the emergence of engineering in the region. Focusing on a period from roughly 1850 to 1970, these works share themes of foreigners and foreign education, nation-state construction, and social conceptions of prestige. This research suggests that throughout Latin America foreign educators and models were prominent in early engineering programs and enterprises. However, many historians associate the growth of engineering, especially civil engineering, with increasing state consolidation and economic intervention. As social perceptions of the value of professional engineering changed, domestic engineers increasingly became important planners and mediators. Some engineers became state leaders. By contextualizing these works with other scholarship on the history of engineering, this review essay highlights new insights while suggesting the need for greater attention to gender, race, and labor; comparisons between developments in Latin America, Africa, and Asia; and more research on private-sector engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on Argentina's sugarcane province of Tucumán from 1870 to 1910, this article examines the processes of engineering professionalization in Argentina and its application to pressing environmental problems. Engineers were central to the processes through which elites in Latin America sought to attract foreign investment in agriculture, integrate their countries into the global economy, and provide expertise that enabled states to advance a techno-scientific imaginary based on liberal economic progress. Progressive bureaucrats and engineers, such as civil engineer Carlos Wauters, believed that they could use hydraulic infrastructure to transform Tucumán from an agricultural monoculture to a polyculture; others believed that infrastructure should be used to support a sugar monoculture. In exploring this issue, this article bridges the fields of engineering history, agricultural history, and environmental history. It also incorporates Latin America into global scholarship on the emergence and evolution of professional engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Making Art Work: How Cold War Engineers and Artists Forged a New Creative Culture" by W. Patrick McCray explores the collaborations between technologists and artists during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. The book highlights how artists began to move away from traditional modes of expression and embrace new media, often working with engineers to create innovative artworks. McCray's work aims to correct the historical oversight of engineers in accounts of this period and emphasizes the importance of collaborations between art and technology. The book also examines the activities of Frank Malina, a socialist rocket scientist turned kinetic artist, and explores the intersections of art and technology in various projects and initiatives. Overall, "Making Art Work" expands the field of art history and offers a distinct perspective on the creative exchange between technologists and artists. [Extracted from the article]

"¡Alerta! Engineering on Shaky Ground" by Elizabeth Reddy is a well-researched book that explores the socio-technical challenges of using technology to mitigate the impact of earthquakes. The book focuses on the Sistema de Alerta Sísmica Mexicano (SASMEX), the world's oldest earthquake early warning system. SASMEX issues warnings within seconds of an earthquake and relies on factors such as political support, public understanding, available resources, and public compliance. The book also examines the history, development, and implementation of SASMEX, highlighting the importance of environmental monitoring and data analysis in earthquake mitigation. While SASMEX can give false alarms, it remains a valuable tool for reducing social inequalities and protecting low-income communities. The book provides valuable insights for social scientists, historians, and those involved in disaster risk reduction. [Extracted from the article]

Luminita Gatejel's book, "Engineering the Lower Danube: Technology and International Cooperation in an Imperial Borderland," explores the history of river infrastructure in the Lower Danube region from 1770 to the end of the nineteenth century. Gatejel examines the geopolitical relations between the Ottoman Empire, the Habsburg Empire, and the Tsarist Empire, highlighting the concept of "hydroimperialism." The book focuses on two major projects: improving navigation through the Iron Gates and enhancing the navigability of the Danube Delta. Gatejel analyzes the challenges faced by the actors involved in these projects, including natural barriers, political conflicts, and economic factors. While the book provides rich details, there are some errors in the conclusions. [Extracted from the article]