Programming for Aspiring Scientists: Python with Applications to Physics

The use of computers in today’s world has become nearly universal, whether you use them to Google the latest factoid, send an email, write a paper for school, or carry out a calculation. This two-week course will give you a glimpse into how scientists use computers to solve problems.

We will begin by learning how to use Python, an open-source programming environment. Computers can only do what is asked of them, so scientists must write instructions for them. We will learn how to create these instructions, called algorithms, and translate them into Python code. And then we will learn how to visualize and fit data and apply this knowledge to a variety of examples, ranging from figuring out how the trajectory of a soccer ball is altered by air resistance, to modeling epidemics. No previous programming experience is assumed.

Open to rising high school sophomores – seniors. Those new to programming highly encouraged.    

Students may attend this course either in person or online. 

In Person Schedule: M - F, 9am - 4pm. This course is offered at the UMass Amherst campus as a residential program. Local students may apply to attend as a commuter.

Online Schedule: Live, synchronous sessions will meet M - F 9:00am - 11:30am (EST). Plus additional asynchronous work as assigned.

Attendance

Students attending the online program are expected to attend all class sessions live in real time. In order to prioritize the health and well-being of participants, eligibility is restricted to applicants residing in time zones where class hours do not extend beyond midnight. Please use a time zone converter to check when class sessions will meet in your time zone.