Programming for Scientists S2 2025

This is the Semester 2, 2025 version of the website.
The Semester 1, 2025 version of the website is available from the Archive tab.

Description#

Welcome to Programming for Scientists S2, 2025! This course teaches introductory programming, computer science concepts, and computational problem solving illustrated with applications common in science, maths, and engineering. The course does not require any prior knowledge of programming, computer science or IT. There is an emphasis on designing and writing clean and correct programs: testing and debugging are seen as integral to the programming enterprise.

We will use Python (version 3), a simple yet extraordinarily powerful programming language. Python is a great first computer programming language to learn. Python is widely used, so being able to code in Python is a very broadly applicable skill.

See the course page on ANU Programs & Courses for more information, such as, e.g., Learning outcomes.

Week 1 checklist#

Week 1 is important in this course. Please make sure to complete the following by the end of week 1:

  • Read all tabs of this website (navbar is at the top of the page), especially the assessment page.
  • Join Ed Discussion via the join link on Wattle with your uid@anu.edu.au email address (not your first.last@anu.edu.au email address). If you already have an account, no need to sign up, just log in. We will be using this tool to handle all communications.
  • Sign up to a lab using MyTimetable.
  • Fill out the demographic survey on Ed Lessons. It’s for us to know more about your background and prior programming skills.
  • Install the software used in this course to work from your personal computer. If having troubles, go to the Python installation session on .
  • Attend the lecture.

In-Person Study#

This course is taught in-person. Lectures will be delivered on campus; they are recorded and available live at the Course Wattle. Labs are also held on campus, in the computer labs (CSIT/Hanna Neumann buildings).

Contact#

Please see the communication page.
In short, please use Ed Discussion for any technical questions.
Only if you have personal or administrative questions, email the course email comp1730@anu.edu.au
Do not use the conveners’ personal emails, such emails will be ignored.

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