Photo Gallery: JPL Annual Invention Challenge draws students to compete from as faraway as Tanzania

Ramadhan Daud, with help from his team, ties a string around a cup for a first-time test of their invention at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

JPL scientist Paul Backes talks with Francis Msuya, of Tanzania, as the rest of the team tries to get their invention to work at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

The Tanzanian team, including Raphael Ngonyani, Salim Mauled,a nd Ramadhan Daud, tie a string together to do a first-time test of their invention with a cup, something they didn’t have at home, at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

After the Tanzanian team’s invention fails to pour the cup of water into the transfer chute they created, team advisor Dogan Aykurt consoles team leader Ramadhan Daud who is dejected, but tries to keep a smile, at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Francis Msuya, and Alfred Woiso, of Tanzania, put their invention back in the suitcase they travelled with to compete at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

JPL’s Paul Backes help the Tanzania team with the design of their invention at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

The Tanzanian team at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Ramadhan Daud, of Tanzania, leaves the competitor’s circle through other teams and parents who are about to compete at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Team leader Ramadhan Daud, with teammate Salim Mauled, looks up after having his head in his hands with trepidation before his team’s invention is put to the test at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Tanzania team advisor Dogan Aykurt helps to set up his team’s invention at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

A ring of parents and contestants watch other water transfer inventions at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

JPL’s Sherry Stukes, of Ground Data Systems coordinates the data she receives with the score board in front of her at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

JPL’s referee Chris Landry, Structural Engineering, closely watches water drop into a vessel at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Alan DeVault, of Pasadena, watches his catapult start to move a cup of water to be dropped into a collection cup at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

JPL’s Phoebe Rhodes-Wickett, mechanical engineering, pours water and a small plastic goldfish into a cup to be officially measured at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

The Arcadia High School team watches a cup of water go up a conveyor belt on their invention at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

The team from Hamilton High School moves their invention from the competition area at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Team member from Lawndale High School make final preparations on their catapult style water transfer system at JPL’s annual Invention Challenge on Friday, December 2, 2016. 28 teams, including a team from Tanzania, but mostly of local Southern California schools, competed. The challenge was to transfer a specific amount of water over a distance to a collection cup on the other side. Methods included catapults, conveyor belts, a lot of duct tape, and pvc.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)