With APOGEE just around the corner, the APOGEE English Press sat down with the CoStAAn of the Department of Paper Evaluation and Presentation (PEP), Divyam Chauhan, to discuss the role PEP plays in bringing the vision of APOGEE to fruition. PEP will be coordinating three events this year—the Think Again Conclave, the paper presentation event, and Papyrus Trails.

Think Again is an event where a roster of seasoned professionals from different disciplines present talks relevant to their industries. As a part of this, PEP has invited Nagin Cox, Deepa Malik, Jeffrey Archer, Saumya Swaminathan, and Henry Throop for this edition of APOGEE.  

The paper presentation competition has seen around 300 entries this year. Out of these, 100 papers will be shortlisted and presented during APOGEE. 

Papyrus Trails is a ‘fest within a fest’ and has a multitude of literature-oriented activities and events. 

Divyam felt that the largest hurdle they faced was the fact that there were two batches, including his own, that had never seen an offline APOGEE. He added that there was a significant lack of experience with respect to how the fest functions as a result of this. Divyam said that his seniors have helped them overcome this by guiding them at each step. He added that the seniors have been closely working with the juniors and have helped them with whatever they need. Divyam felt that another difference between this year and the previous iterations of APOGEE is that the majority of students would be staying on campus rather than leaving for personal trips simply because they have been anticipating an offline fest for well over two years.

PEP has evolved into a tightly knit group, especially after the pandemic. Divyam accredits this to the fact that online recruitments and interactions were more demanding. This inspired the seniors of the department to engage with their juniors more, resulting in stronger bonds being formed within the department as a whole. Divyam feels that the department culture at PEP is as alive as it has ever been. 

Many coordinators are working for the first time in an offline APOGEE and Divyam is no exception. In order to adapt as swiftly as possible to deliver his best as the CoStAAn of PEP, Divyam has left no stone unturned—He has used input from both his seniors and the CoStAA to ensure that the fest runs smoothly. Divyam ended the interview by strongly urging every BITSian to explore the fest, and attend as many events as they can.