With APOGEE coming up, the Department of Publications and Correspondence-APOGEE (PCr-A) is working hard. The APOGEE English Press had a chat with Mayan Agarwal, CoStAAn of PCr-A, to delve into the inner workings of the department.

Mayan elaborated on how PCr-A’s work generally begins in the odd semester itself. They prepare a database for targeted outreach for events where people require a specific skill set, such as to make a drone or robot. This database generally includes information of other colleges or the technical societies within them. In Mayan’s words, it is their ‘goldmine’, which ‘fuels whatever work [they] do’. 

Mayan also shared another way in which PCr-A collects data, the Campus Ambassador Program. Campus Ambassadors are people who are the ‘face of APOGEE in their own colleges.’ He explained that PCr-A had developed a grading system where colleges get points for publicising the fest in different ways. In the end, the points are added up and the colleges are given certain incentives like cash prizes or coupons. This year, the department saw 1300 Campus Ambassadors, the highest number to date. 

A lot of PCr-A’s work is dependent on other organisations. By the time they come to the second semester of the year, the events need to be finalised. According to Mayan, managing APOGEE is more difficult than managing any other fest.

Initially, the department acted in accordance with the scheduled timeline. However, they encountered a few delays later on when the professional shows were not finalised, and when the cash prizes were not decided. Mayan said that there was nothing PCr-A could do but wait in this situation, and so they tried to finish whatever was possible.

PCr-A is also responsible for printing for all standees and mess signings, and putting up events on Unstop, a platform where participants could register for different events. They also go on work trips to nearby colleges for publicity. In addition to these, PCr-A conducts APOGEE snaps as well. Mayan mentioned that this task is the most tedious one, as it is difficult to manage the high number of snaps taken for this fest. Compared to the other fests, the number of snaps to be taken doubles during APOGEE. 

To conclude, Mayan requested students to stay for the fest as many new and exciting events were added in this edition of APOGEE. Robots at War, Indian Drone Racing League, and an exhibition with aeroplanes coming in from VIT Vellore are only some of the highlights of the fest, which he hoped the students do not miss out on.