LUCKNOW, April 7 -- A first-of-its-kind dedicated Artificial Intelligence laboratory is set to be established at Lucknow University's old campus, likely by the end of April. The lab-'Green Skills and Applied Artificial Intelligence for Climate Actions'-will function under the university's computer science department and will be developed and operated in collaboration with 1M1B, a non-profit organisation, and Microsoft. As part of the initiative, a hybrid boot camp is proposed to be conducted through the laboratory to support students from various disciplines in developing ideas aimed at climate resilience and improving quality of life. The facility will be equipped with a GPU, enabling advanced, high-tech research. Students will also receive training in electric vehicle design and manufacturing, along with work on various electronic devices, said Puneet Mishra, head of the computer science department. In addition, a forensics laboratory will also be established where students will receive hands-on training to tackle issues such as cybercrime, data breach, ransomware attacks, identity theft, digital fraud and online surveillance. "The department is also launching specialised programmes, including bachelor of computer application (BCA) courses in artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber security and cyber forensics, data science and data analytics, internet of things, with 75 seats each. Additionally, MSc programmes in artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber security and cyber forensics, data science and data analytics, along with a postgraduate diploma in cyber security, each with 40 seats, are set to commence from the next academic session," said Mishra. He said the new courses are designed to align higher education with the fast-changing technology landscape and the emerging needs of industry, governance, research, and the digital society. They aim to prepare students for era of artificial intelligence, cyber resilience, data-driven decision-making, connected devices, and advanced computing applications. The BCA (AI and ML) programme will help students build a strong foundation in intelligent systems, machine learning models, automation, and problem-solving methods central to modern software development and digital innovation. Meanwhile, the BCA (cyber security and cyber forensics) programme will offer both practical and conceptual understanding of network security, ethical hacking, digital investigation, cyber law awareness, incident response, and cyber forensics. BCA (data science and data analytics) course is designed to train students in data handling, visualization, analytics, statistical reasoning, and computational decision support, making it highly useful in modern academic and industrial settings. Meanwhile, the BCA (Internet of Things) programme will equip students with knowledge of connected systems, sensors, embedded applications, device communication, automation logic, and digital ecosystems that bridge the gap between software and the physical world. The department will also get APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Innovation and Institute for Development of Advance Computing which are currently running under department of Physics. LU vice-chancellor Prof JP Saini, said that the computer science department is being shifted to the ONGC building....