An Introduction to Python for Data Analysis

Python is a programming language that is wide-spread among scientists due to its readability and powerful standard libraries. This practical course teaches Python to students with prior experience in other programming languages. In addition to introducing the language itself, we will focus on scientific computing including vectors and matrices as well as data processing and mild machine learning. During the second week, participants will implement a project in Python.

Language

The official language of the course is English, and the exams will be given in English.

Content
  • Python basics: syntax, interpreter, control structures, data types, OOP
  • Scientific computing: NumPy, Matplotlib, scikit-learn
  • Project: realization of a project in Python
Grading

Grading is based on the project in the second week. If crucial components of Python are not covered in your project, we might also test your knowledge on the subject.

Enrollment

We only have a limited number of seats (30). Bachelor's students of  AI and CS will be treated with priority as participation in one of the programming courses is mandatory for them. From the 1st of February 2025 to the 1st of March 2025 interested Bachelor students from AI and CS programs can apply for a place in the seminar. The allocation of places will take place via the following central Moodle course of the faculty: https://moodle.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/course/view.php?id=62179.
The places will be allocated by the 15th of March 2025 at the latest. Please complete your binding enrollment by registering for the seminar via FlexNow. Please note that it is mandatory to follow the above steps. Enrollment via FlexNow without prior registration via the central Moodle course is not permitted.

Other interested students, can enroll between June 1st and June 31st, 2025 for remaining spots by sending an email to python@ini.rub.de with the info below:

  • Name
  • Student ID number (Matrikelnummer)
  • Study program and semester
  • A short explanation about your coding experience (one or two sentences)

We will inform you whether you are allocated a spot or not. Please also contact your respective examination office to clarify if further registration steps (e.g., FlexNow or other systems) are required.

 

Lecturers

Details

Course type
Lab courses
Credits
3 CP
Term
Summer Term 2025

Dates

Lab course
Takes place every day from 10:30 to 16:30 in room IC 03/444-414.
First appointment is on 01.09.2025
Last appointment is on 12.09.2025

Requirements

We expect fluency in one other programming language and familiarity with concepts like

  • control structures
  • data types
  • functions
  • object-oriented programming

These concepts will not be taught separately.

Furthermore, the course will be taking place in a room without PCs, meaning that students are required to use their own laptops during the course.

About the INI

The Institut für Neuroinformatik (INI) is a research unit of the Faculty of Computer Science at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Its scientific goal is to understand the fundamental principles through which organisms generate behavior and cognition while linked to their environments through sensory and effector systems. Inspired by our insights into such natural cognitive systems, we seek new solutions to problems of information processing in artificial cognitive systems. We draw from a variety of disciplines that include experimental psychology and neurophysiology as well as machine learning, neural artificial intelligence, computer vision, and robotics.

Contact

Universitätsstr. 150, Building NB, Room 3/32
D-44801 Bochum, Germany

Tel: (+49) 234 32-28967
Fax: (+49) 234 32-14210

sekretariat@ini.rub.de
www.ini.rub.de