LUCKNOW, April 13 -- Lucknow University's executive committee approved a slew of academic, administrative initiatives on Monday, most notably launching a bachelor of science (BSc) in computational astrophysics that makes it the first public university in India to offer such a program.

Computational astrophysics courses teach numerical techniques to simulate complex astronomical phenomena such as galaxy formation, star evolution, black hole collisions that cannot be solved analytically.

The new undergraduate course joins a graduate program in Wildlife Sciences that will welcome students from any discipline. Both approvals signal the university's push toward interdisciplinary education, according to vice-chancellor prof. JP Saini.

"By la...