Biomedical engineering students had to put their computers and other high-tech tools aside recently to complete a demanding class assignment using only rubber bands, construction paper, glue and other "low-tech" materials.

Thirteen undergraduate teams, many in makeup and costumes, gathered in Homewood's Glass Pavilion to put their improvised ramps, launchers, pipelines, Ferris wheels, planes and carriages to the test. Their goal was to move a pingpong ball twice around a square, at least 12 feet long on each side, within two minutes. The catch? The students could not touch the ball with their hands or allow the ball to touch the ground.

Biomedical Engineering faculty members Artin Shoukas and Robert Allen donned striped shirts to referee the event. The activity was set up to encourage teamwork and peer learning and to help students understand the process of designing, building and testing a project.