Programming for Scientists S2 2024
This website is for the Semester 2, 2024 version of COMP1730/6730. If you are looking for the Semester 1, 2024 or earlier versions, please refer to
the Archive tab. Be aware that the top menu links
point to the current semester pages. You need to manually
transform the URL of these links in order to access the archived pages.
For example, to access the lecture notes from Semester 1, 2024, you have to
to transform https://comp.anu.edu.au/courses/comp1730/lectures/
into https://comp.anu.edu.au/courses/comp1730/archive/S1_2024/lectures/
The page is transitioning from Semester 1, 2024 to Semester 2, 2024, and some details haven’t been updated yet. It will become definitive by the first day of the semester.
Contact: comp1730@anu.edu.au#
Please send all correspondence and questions about COMP1730 and COMP6730 to this email address. To help us managing the course efficiently, please do not contact convenors directly.
Description#
Welcome to Programming for Scientists S2, 2024! 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:
- Attend both lectures.
- Read this website, especially the policies on deadlines, academic integrity, use of email and conduct.
- Join Ed Discussion. Use this Join link with your
uid@anu.edu.auemail address. Use your student UID and NOT your email name account. If you already have an account, no need to sign up, just log in. We will be using this tool to handle all communication. - Install the software used in this course to work from your personal computer. If having troubles, go to the Python installation session Friday, week 1; click here to see the details.
- Sign up to a lab using MyTimetable.
- Fill out the demographic survey on Wattle. It’s for us to know more about your background and prior programming skills.
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. From the very same link, you will also be able to watch the lectures live remotely. Labs are also held on campus, in the computer labs (CSIT/Hanna Neumann buildings).