The APOGEE English Press sat down with Vyoma Kalra, the APOGEE Coordinator for the Biological Sciences Association (Bio Assoc), to discuss their intensive preparations for the upcoming technical fest.

Vyoma described the core mission of the association as ‘bridging the widening gap between the core sciences and the technical world, particularly on a campus where engineering often takes centre stage’. He elucidated that the association worked to show students that biology is not just about research but has significant industrial applications. He added that they partnered with various startups, many of which were founded by BITSians, to host sessions that explored this intersection.

One of the club’s important works is their annual flagship magazine, Genesis. Vyoma highlighted that the publication features interviews with professors from BITS Pilani and the University of Waterloo, as well as insights from various CEOs and startup leaders. He also noted that the association prided itself on its interdisciplinary nature, bringing together students from chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and biology to tackle biological problems using technical expertise. They also host Bio Day Out, usually falling in March, where sports and games are used to break the ice between students and professors in the Biological Sciences Department, fostering a deeper connection between them beyond the formal setting of a traditional classroom.

Turning the conversation to APOGEE, Vyoma described the three events the team would conduct this fest. The first event, Jugaad Jumanji, would be a board game event at  Rotunda designed for those seeking a more relaxed experience. The second event, Murder Mystery, is a ‘whodunnit’ style scenario where participants must analyse clues and identify the murderer. Vyoma mentioned that the team made a deliberate decision to move away from digital QR codes in favour of physical clues this year to make the event more ‘adventurous’. He noted that they want to provide an ‘old-school’ treasure hunt experience for the participants. He admitted that they had to work around a lot of constraints imposed by the administration, since crafting a real-world experience had a lot of challenges. Finally, he spoke about Dexter’s Lab, an experiment-based technical event in the biology laboratory, which will adopt a ‘Cyberpunk’ theme to match the fest’s aesthetic.

Vyoma conveyed that the planning phase for these events began in mid-January and involved a long process of ideation and logistical coordination. He admitted that the scale of the events can be considered daunting, especially since Murder Mystery saw over 500 participants last year. Despite the high pressure, he emphasised that the association felt more like a ‘family’ than a typical workplace.