[Foundations] Coding Fundamentals for Humanists (DHSI 2026)

Description

This course is intended for humanities and social sciences-based researchers without any programming background who would like to understand how code works behind the scenes by writing simple but useful scripts of their own. Over the week the emphasis will be on understanding how computer programmers think so that participants will be able to participate in high-level conceptual discussions in the future with more confidence. These general concepts will be reinforced and illustrated with hands-on developments of simple programs that can be used to help with text-based research and analysis right away.

We will use Python because of its huge popularity, easy syntax, and powerful extensions and we will work in the friendly and convenient Jupyter environment. You will have an opportunity to apply your new knowledge to a project of your own at the end of the course.

This course does not have prerequisites and is itself a great prerequisite for courses on machine learning.

Instructor(s)

Evolutionary and behavioural biologist by training, Software/Data Carpentry instructor, and open source advocate, Marie-Hélène Burle develops and delivers training for researchers on high-performance computing, machine learning, R, Python, Julia, Git, Bash scripting, and cutting edge programming tools for Simon Fraser University (https://www.rcg.sfu.ca/) and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (https://alliancecan.ca/).

Alex Razoumov earned his PhD in computational astrophysics from the University of British Columbia and held postdoctoral positions in Urbana–Champaign, San Diego, Oak Ridge, and Halifax. He has worked on numerical models ranging from galaxy formation to core-collapse supernovae and stellar hydrodynamics, and has developed a number of computational fluid dynamics and radiative transfer codes and techniques. He spent five years as HPC Analyst in SHARCNET helping researchers from diverse backgrounds to use large clusters, and in 2014 moved back to Vancouver to focus on scientific visualization and training researchers to use advanced computing tools. He is now with Simon Fraser University.

Click here for an example of previous syllabus and course material (2025)