The APOGEE English Press recently sat down with Arpit Srivastava, Coordinator of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) student chapter, to discuss their preparations for APOGEE ‘26. 

The Coordinator explained that IIChE aimed to bridge academic learning with exposure within the field of chemical engineering through workshops, competitions, and creating opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals and alumni. He added that the club operated through a structured team of core members and coordinators who managed various verticals. 

This APOGEE, the club would be organising three major events and was shifting its focus toward application-based experiences. The lineup included their kernel event, ‘Chem Poker,’ which had been a mainstay for many editions of APOGEE. Arpit mentioned that the primary change this year involved making the entire second round based on real poker. Additionally, The Lab Lockdown was being organised for the second consecutive APOGEE, with the format now more heavily inclined toward chemical-based applications, instead of the former, more theoretical approach. IIChE would also conduct The Imprint Co. at their stall, involving block printing on pouches and bead bracelet making, which would include games to provide participants with discounts on their purchases.

The club started with decoration sessions and dry runs of their events two weeks before APOGEE. The sessions would entail creating props and poster designs for all their events, while the dry runs were conducted to ensure the smooth flow of events. Arpit noted that a key operational challenge delaying their work was the constant evaluatives of his workforce. However, he emphasised that the juniors remained hardworking and approached their tasks with sincerity.

Arpit concluded by explaining that being part of IIChE during APOGEE would provide his members with a highly practical learning experience. According to him, members would gain hands-on exposure to event management, given the agency to ideate problem statements and then work on their logistics and execution. While the Coordinator revealed that the IIChE’s workload could be tiring, he expressed that leading the events to fruition would be rewarding.