CSC 210

Computing for Scientists

MESSAGE OF THE DAY:
Welcome to CSC210: Computing for Scientists. Department of Computer Science wishes you a happy, healthy, and successful semester.

Content:
The aim of this one-semester course is to provide an introduction to the important task of grappling with scientific problems with the help of numerical computations. Examples such as computing sqrt(2) to 16 digits, population models, chemical reactions, tumor growth, epidemics, mechanical systems, genetic sequence anaylsis, etc., will be examined. The primary computational tools will be PHASER, R, and Python programming Language. Some of the underying numerical algorithms and programming techniques will be introduced as appropriate. No previous knowledge of programming is required.

Textbook:
There is no textbook. We will use many sources: book chapters, papers, softwares, and guest lecturers.

Softwares:
We will use the following softwares which will be provided free of charge:
Phaser: A Universal Simulator for Dynamical Systems
The R Project for Statistical Computing
Python Programming Language
Computing for Scientists
Python for Biologists
R for Biologists

Online Resources:
Web resources for the course are listed at Scientific Computation Online Resources.

Lectures -- Time and Place:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 2.00-3.15PM; UNGAR 305, Computing Lab.
Homework help sessions Tuesdays 5.00-6.30PM, Computing Lab.

Laboratory:
Here is more info about the Computing Laboratory.

Professor
Hüseyin Koçak
Electronic Mail: hk@cs.miami.edu
Personal Office: Ungar 310G. Tel: 305-284-3138
Main Office: UB310A. Tel: 305-284-2268, Fax:305-284-2264
Personal Web page: Personal Web page.

Teaching Assistants:
Nathaniel Dean, PRISM TA. Electronic Mail: nxd551@miami.edu

Office Hours:
Prof. Kocak: Tuesdays 3:30-5:00PM, Thursdays 3.30-4:00PM.
Nathaniel Dean: Tuesday 11:00a - 12:00p, 3:15 - 4:15p; Thursday 10:00a - 11:00a.
Please send me an e-mail if you want to set up a meeting with me.

Problem Session:
Tuesdays: 5:00PM - 6:00PM (in the lab).

Homework submission:
Homeworks will be accepted through Blackboard. Please follow the submission instructions.

Grading:
Your grade will be based on weekly assignments (40%) and two examinations (30% + 30%).

Weekly agenda: