Introduction to Python Programming 2025
C2SM is organising this workshop, given by the Scientific IT Services (SIS) of ETH Zürich. This course is held in a flipped classroom setup (more details in the description below) and introduces the Python programming language to students and researchers already having basic programming skills in another programming language.
This course will take place on Friday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 am, from 19 September to 24 October 2025.
Dates:
Introduction to Python and first experiences:
- 19 September 2025, 09:30 to 10:30 AM
Practice and discussion of problems:
- 26 September, 3 October, 10 October, 17 October, and 24 October 2025, always from 09:30 to 10:30 AM
Venue: ETH Zurich, CHN - L17.1
Goal
This course introduces fundamental concepts of the Python programming language including a basic introduction into scientific data analysis with Python.
Target groups
PhD students, post-docs and staff from C2SM-associated research groups. This course is suited for you if:
- you did some programming in the past (maybe R, Matlab, C, Java, ...)
- you are familiar with concepts such as "function", "if then else", "while" and "for"
- you do not have any Python experience yet
Prerequisites
Participants should have previous programming experience in another programming language and need to be familiar with basic concepts such as “for loops” or “functions”.
Note: The course will be too fast if you never programmed before.
Content
- General Introduction: Numbers, variables and basic mathematics in Python.
- Working with Strings
- Branching in Python with If / Elif / Else
- Loops in Python using while and for
- Implementing Functions in Python
- The List and Tuple data types
- The Dictionary data type
- Writing and Reading files in Python
- Introduction to numpy, scipy and pandas
Organizational Aspects
We offer this course as a flipped classroom course: Participants work offline through the parts of the script on their own following the instructions and can ask for help using a provided element/matrix chat channel. In addition, participants can discuss questions and problems during the scheduled in-person meetings on Friday mornings. The infrastructure to work with the script in a web browser will be provided. The initial meeting on September 19 will discuss this in detail. We will also ask participants to fill out feedback forms regularly.
Equipment
You will need your laptop/or computer. We will provide a Python programming environment accessible with a web browser.
Costs
This course is offered free of charge.
Application
The number of participants is limited to 30. Applications will be treated on a "first come, first serve" basis. Application is open until Wednesday, 17 September 2025 or until the maximum of participants is reached.