252-0852-00L  Foundations of Computer Science

SemesterAutumn Semester 2016
LecturersL. E. Fässler, H.‑J. Böckenhauer, M. Dahinden, D. Komm, H. Lehner
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionGerman


AbstractStudents learn to apply selected concepts and tools from computer science for working on interdisciplinary projects.

The following topics are covered: modeling and simulations, introduction to programming, visualizing multi-dimensional data, introduction matrices, managing data with lists and tables and with relational databases, universal methods for algorithm design.
ObjectiveThe students learn to

- understand the role of computer science in science,
- to control computer and automate processes of problem solving by programming,
- choose and apply appropriate tools from computer science,
- process and analyze real-world data from their subject of study,
- handle the complexity of real-world data,
- know universal methods for algorithm design.
Content1. The role of computer science in science
2. Introduction to Programming with Python
3. Modeling and simulations
4. Introduction to Matrices with Matlab
5. Visualizing multidimensional data
6. Data management with lists and tables
7. Data management with a relational database
8. Universal methods for algorithm design
Lecture notesAll materials for the lecture are available at Link
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is based on application-oriented learning. The students spend most of their time working through projects with data from natural science and discussing their results with teaching assistants. To learn the computer science basics there are electronic tutorials available.