Computer Modelling in Science: Introduction (UP)

Code

BIOS2016

School

Biosciences

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

Modern biological and environmental science includes the study of complex systems and large data sets, including imaging data. This necessitates the use of computer models and analyses in order to understand these systems. This module contains an introduction to computer programming and modelling techniques that are used in the biological and environmental sciences. Specifically, it contains:

(i) An introduction to computer programming and algorithms, using the Python programming language.

(ii) An introduction the construction of mathematical models for biological and environmental systems using difference and differential equations, with a particular emphasis on population dynamics, and the use of computing to simulate, analyse these models and fit these models to data.

Throughout the module, the focus will be on relevant examples and applications, e.g. environmental pollution, growth of microbial populations, disease epidemics, or computer manipulation of images of plants, animals or the natural environment. The module will be assessed by a patchwork assessment consisting of write-ups of assignments from during the semester.

Target Students

All School of Biosciences students, Natural Sciences students and Ningbo 2+2 Environmental Sciences students (based in Geography).

Classes

• One 4-hour workshop
• One 2-hour computing
• One 4-hour computing each week for 9 weeks

The first (computing) session is only 2 hours. All remaining sessions are 4 hours. Sessions 1-9 and 11 require a computer room. Session 10 requires a large, flat bed, seminar room.

Assessment

• 40% Coursework 1: Assessment on Python programming.
• 60% Coursework 2: Two patches (patch 2 and patch 3) on computer modelling.

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

A student who successfully completes this module should be able to:

(i) Transform a series of instructions specified mathematically or textually into a pseudocode algorithm.

(ii) Create or modify simple computer program code in order to carry out a set algorithmic task.

(iii) Critically evaluate the use and results of suitable computer algorithms or programs in the context of relevant challenges in the biological or environmental sciences.

(iv) Construct a simple mathematical model from a set of biological or environmental processes.

(v) Simulate and analyse mathematical models using a computer and appropriate software and/or algorithms.

(vii) Critically evaluate a mathematical model and its simulation results in the context of relevant challenges in the biological or environmental sciences.

Conveners

• Professor Dov Stekel