Introduction to Scientific Computing

This is an introduction course to the first year undergraduates taught at Fudan University.

• Course: Road to Scientific Research: Powerful Computer Applications （XDSY118019.01）
• Lecturers: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Schedule: 18:30 - 21:05, Thursday
• Classroom: H2112A

Week 1 (2025.09.11 Thur): Introduction

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Topics
  • Introduction to the syllabus
  • Setup VS Code, Python, and Jupyter Notebook

Week 2 (2025.09.18 Thur): Python Basics Part 1

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials
  • Jupyter notebook 01_python_basics.ipynb.
• Topics
  • What is programming?
  • How to learn programming
  • Why Python?
  • Keyword, literals, variables, operators, control flow

Week 3 (2025.09.25 Thur): Python Basics Part 2

• Lecturer： Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials
  • Jupyter notebook 01_python_basics.ipynb.
• Topics
  • Data structures, function, class, module
  • Coding sessions

Week 4 (2025.10.09 Thur): Scientific Computing in Python

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials
  • Jupyter notebook 02_python_scientific_computing.ipynb.
• Topics
  • Numpy array
  • Linear algebra in Numpy
  • SciPy: selected scientific computing topics
  • Coding sessions

Week 5 (2025.10.16 Thur): Introduction to Deep Learning

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials
  • Slides
  • Deep learning videos: 3Blue1Brown neural networks series
  • PyTorch videos: PyTorch beginner series
  • Jupyter notebook 03_python_deep_learning.ipynb
• Topics
  • Introduction to deep learning
  • Deep learning in Python with PyTorch
  • Coding session

Week 6 (2025.10.23 Thur): Matlab and Mathematica

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials
  • Slides for Matlab
  • Slides for Mathematica
• Topics
  • Introduction to Matlab
  • Symbolic computing in Mathematica

Week 7 (2025.10.30 Thur): Plotting and Data Visualization

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials:
  • Slides
  • Jupyter notebook: 04_python_plotting.ipynb
  • Jupyter notebook: 05_python_images.ipynb
  • Matlab script: Rendering volume
• Topics:
  • matplotlib for line arts and 2D graphics.
  • Matlab for 3D visualization.
  • Coding session

Week 8 (2025.11.06 Thur): Code and Document Management

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials
  • Slides
• Topics:
  • git
  • github.com
  • Reference managers: Paperpile and Zotero

Week 9 (2025.11.13 Thur): Documenting Tools

• Lecturer: Prof. Yi-Xin Liu
• Materials
  • Slides for Markdown, Obsidian, and Marp
  • Slides for LaTeX
• Topics:
  • Markdown
  • Note taking with Obsidian
  • Slideshow with Marp
  • Scientific notebooks with Quarto
  • Publishing with LaTeX

Week 10 (2025.11.20 Thur)

Q&A Session

Week 11 (2025.11.27 Thur): Final Exam

TBA