Computer Modelling in Science: Applications
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BIOS3036 | Biosciences | 3 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- BIOS3036
- School
- Biosciences
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn 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) Development, simulation and analysis for models in space and time, using the Python language, with applications in the biological and environmental sciences; (ii) Analysis of long term behaviour of models in two or more dimensions; (iii) Methods for fitting models to experimental and environmental data; (iv) analysis of image data. The module will focus on relevant applications in environmental and biological science, e.g. chemical, radioactive and biological pollution, crop development and pathogens and microbiology. The module will use the Python programming language throughout and be assessed by a patchwork assessment consisting of write-ups of assignments from during the semester.
Target Students
All School of Biosciences and Natural Sciences students and Ningbo 2+2 Environmental Sciences students (based in Geography)
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar
- One 4-hour computing each week for 10 weeks
The first 10 sessions (weeks 2-11) require computer room. The final session (week 12) requires a lecture room.
Assessment
- 40% Report 1: Report, including code, covering the image processing part of the module material.
- 60% Report 2: Comprises two parts, 2a and 2b, which are reports, including code, which assess the modelling part of the module material.
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aim of this module is to show the range of techniques for computer-based models applied to the biological and environmental sciences using suitable important examples.Learning Outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this module should be able to:
• Understand and articulate the relevance of computer-based mathematical models to a range of applications in the biological and environmental sciences.
• Construct a simple model from a description of the processes in a biological or environmental system.
• Simulate simple and complex models using appropriate computer software.
• Use appropriate computer software to fit simple models to data.
• Critically evaluate a model and its simulation results in the context of the environmental and biological science underpinning the model.
• Write appropriate computer programs to carry out image processing for biological and environmental images.
Conveners
- Prof Andrew French