Introduction to Programming Using Python (Part 1 of 2)

This is part 1 of a double workshop that meets on two days. When you register for this event, you will automatically be registered for Part 2 on 1/12/22 from 2:00 PM-5:00 PM.

Python is a programming language used for a wide variety of applications including scientific computation, image processing, text processing, file handling, graphics, database handling, and web interfaces. It is designed to be elegant, concise, and easy to learn, while offering many advanced features. This workshop is an introduction to Python, and to the resources you need to start learning and using Python, for those with little or no programming experience. Programming is best learned by doing, so the workshop is participatory, with many short, simple exercises.

Learning objectives:

Participants will become familiar with basic programming concepts, some general and some specific to Python. These will include various data types such as strings, integers, floats, lists, and dictionaries; and statements such as import, if/else, for, and try/except. They will also be made aware of various add-on modules for Python such as numpy for numerical calculations and matplotlib for plotting.

Knowledge prerequisites:

This workshop assumes no previous programming experience, though some participants with limited programming experience may still find the workshop useful.


Hardware/software prerequisites:

Participants who want to follow along with the examples and exercises should install the Anaconda Python distribution **ahead of time** on their own laptops. Instructions for installing Anaconda, running Jupyter, downloading and viewing a notebook, and verifying that your setup is successful can be found here: https://researchcomputing.princeton.edu/learn/workshops-live-training/requirements-picscie-virtual-workshops#jupyter.

Please install Anaconda Python, and be sure that you can do the following before the workshop:
-Start Jupyter
-Download and display an iPython notebook

Those who need additional help installing Anaconda Python and running Jupyter, should contact the instructor Matthew Cahn before the course at mcahn@Princeton.edu.

Session format:

Presentation, demo, and hands-on

What to expect:
Double workshop (meets twice a week for 3-hour sessions = 6 total hours of meeting time)

Meet the facilitator:
Matthew Cahn is a programmer and Linux system administrator in Research Computing and the Department of Molecular Biology. He has been programming in Python for over 20 years in the fields of scientific instrumentation, drug discovery, and molecular biology.

To request accommodations for this event, please contact the workshop or event facilitator at least 3 working days prior to the event.

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Co-hosted with: PICSciE/Research Computing

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