BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University has received a $1.4 million grant to create a course that focuses on merging cybersecurity, with industry operations.
They're wanting to tackle emerging threats.
The Department of Energy only awarded two Texas universities with this grant and Lamar is one of them.
Students already in the cybersecurity degree plan will now learn how to combine their computer skills with work on the line at plants.
"Definitely the part about protecting the power industry that is definitely number one top priority. Also, what excites me is just the ability to bridge the gap between engineering and computer science," said Joseph Raymer, a cyber research assistant in the master's program.
As Southeast Texas industries continue to grow they're implementing AI to help protect the plants from hackers.
"AI has been growing, booming you know? And the hackers are more smarter as compared to previous days. So they're trying to apply something new technology to hack the chemical plant," said Anup Nandi, a master's student in electrical engineering.
"To know that it's a potential threat. You can consider different approaches to mitigation things that other people wouldn't want to, or even know where to begin," said Daniel Peter, a mechanical engineering student.
The Department of Energy awarded Lamar the $1.4 million grant to create a midstream critical manufacturing industry cybersecurity hub.
"Focus on industrial cybersecurity so we will develop a new course and also add new content into the existing courses," said Dr. Helen Lou, the director of the Center for Data Analytics and Cybersecurity at Lamar.
Dr. Lou will says it'll help tackle crucial questions.
"But how does software cybersecurity, relate to the control system. That was not taught before," Dr. Lou said.
The May 2021 ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline showed how vulnerable the system is.
"Possibly millions of dollars of oil just not being produced here. Cause that's where crude comes from is through our pipelines. So they're just not able to get any of the product or make any of product. That would be a disaster," Raymer said.
"The supply chain of the energy companies. so we need to be careful of how we install software, how we manage the patch, and how to manage the suppliers," said Dr. Lou.
Students say what they're learning now will ultimately protect the future.
"So that's why we really need to protect these places. Cause they've really have important infrastructure and potential safety hazards that could get out," said Raymer.
The university is set to launch the course next semester in January 2025. Students who complete them will receive an enterprise cybersecurity certificate.