Hands-on training courses @ York Technology Facility Data Science Hub

[nBUG Steering Committee]

Sent on behalf of Dr Sandy Macdonald @ University of York

Introduction to Scientific Computing (2 days), 20-21 May 2026

This newer course, Introduction to Scientific Computing, aims to familiarise attendees with the core concepts of scientific computing and give them the expertise to start using command line tools and programs, remotely accessing remote machines like high-performance computing facilities, and managing their code with version control systems like Git.

Increasingly, scientific research is requiring the use of command line tools and high-performance computing to both generate and to analyse data. On this course, you'll learn how to use the command line to navigate and view files, move and copy files, remotely access other machines, write Bash scripts, and more. We'll also teach you how to use version control to manage your code with Git, and how to push that code to code repositories like GitHub.

Like our Python course, below, we're excited to be using new online materials (using Software Carpentries) for the first time, and a newly-developed curriculum for this course.

More details here: https://www.york.ac.uk/biology/technology-facility/data-science/courses

Introduction to Python Programming (2 days), 27-28 May 2026

Our long-running and well-established Introduction to Python Programming course has now been running for more than 10 years and has provided many dozens of attendees with their first step into the world of coding.

This year, we have an exciting, re-developed version of the course with new online materials (using Software Carpentries) and new exercises for candidates.

This course covers everything from the fundamentals of programming, to more advanced concepts like functions and classes, right through to reading in, processing, and plotting scientific data. It is aimed at complete beginners or those who may have dabbled in another language like R, for example, and aims to get you to the level where you are proficient enough to use Python in your everyday work and research.

Python is vastly flexible and useful, and is the world's most popular programming language. It is used for everything from data science, to web development, and even for advanced AI and machine learning.

More details here: https://www.york.ac.uk/biology/technology-facility/data-science/courses

Course Details

Both courses will run from 9:30am to 5pm on both days, with a 1 hour lunch break and two short refreshment breaks (lunch and refreshments provided for candidates).

We have spaces for up to 30 attendees on each course, so please book early to avoid missing out.

Both of our courses are led by staff from the Data Science Hub in the Bioscience Technology Facility here at the University of York. The Technology Facility provides expertise to researchers in York and beyond in Imaging, Genomics, Proteomics, Data Science, and more.

The courses are held here on the University of York's beautiful Heslington East campus on the outskirts of York.

York is a small city full of history, dating back to Roman and Viking times, with some of the best-preserved medieval streets and buildings in the country, incredible city walls, the imposing York Minster cathedral, and much more...

We are happy to recommend or arrange accommodation, should you need it.

Please contact btf-en...@york.ac.uk for more details or to book onto the courses.

Recent Feedback for our Courses

"All the teachers were fantastic at explaining the complex material well, answered everyone's questions and were very happy to help out."

"Overall very nice course and nicely structured, so the information is not overwhelming."