Python Course for Geoscientists

5 Oct 2026, 09:00 → 9 Oct 2026, 18:00 Europe/Berlin

Ralf Mueller (DKRZ), Jannek Squar (Uni HH / DKRZ), Marco Kulüke (DKRZ), Karin Meier-Fleischer (DKRZ), Florian Ziemen (DKRZ), Felix Oertel (DKRZ), Kameswarrao Modali (DKRZ)

 

Target group:  Python beginners
 

In today's world, there is usually no way around the Python programming language in the geosciences. However, learning Python on your own is associated with many difficulties and leads only to unsatisfactory results, which is why this course was developed especially for beginners.

We only offer a limited number of course seats to ensure there is enough time to help with problems. A few additional seats for the waiting list will be taken in the registration which does not guarantee participation.

The course is only offered to our DKRZ users and project partners who are just starting to work with Python.

Notes:

• On 05.10.26 (optional) we offer a short introduction to Linux and Jupyterhub for those registered course participants interested.
• From 06.10.26 on the actual Python course starts for all registered course participants.

This workshop will take place via videoconference.

Registration opens on September 7, 2026, at 10 a.m.

The next course will take place in spring next year.

 

 

 

DKRZ_Python_Course_Registration_GDPR_202610.pdf

Monday 5 October

13:30 → 16:15 Day 1: Offer for Linux newbies

Here Linux newbies are briefly taught the basics of working on a Linux computer. This enables the Python course team, to start directly with the Python core language introduction on Tuesday morning.

13:30 Welcome

A short welcome to the participants and speakers.

13:40 Difference between a supercomputer and a mobile phone

• what is a node, cpu
• historical development
• architecture

14:00 What is Python - short overview

• difference between a programming language and Python
• assembler, compiler, interpreter

14:15 Jupyter notebooks

• connecting to Levante with Jupyterhub
• Jupyterlab
• notebook
• terminal

15:00 Introduction to Linux

• terminal
• via WSL
• command line and shell
• editor

Tuesday 6 October

09:00 → 16:30 Day 2: Python core language

Start of the Python course for all registered course participants.

09:00 Welcome

• Jupyterhub
• Jupyterlab
• terminal
• copy course material

09:30 Syntax

• case-sensitive
• print
• indentation and code blocks
• line continuation
• comments

10:00 Data types

• boolean
• integer
• floating-point
• complex
• conversion between types
• None

10:15 Strings

• formatting
• string functions

10:30 Lists, tuples, and sets

10:45 Dictionaries

• creation
• access

11:15 Coffee break

11:30 Copy objects

• shallow copy
• deep copy

11:45 Basic operators and math functions

12:00 Conditions

12:30 Lunch break

13:30 Loops

• for
• while

14:00 List comprehension

• nested

14:30 Functions

• definition

14:45 Coffee break

15:00 File I/O

• open
• close
• read
• write
• csv reader

15:45 Exceptions, error handling

• try and except
• logging
• debugging

Wednesday 7 October

09:00 → 17:00 Day 3: Introduction to Numpy, Xarray, and Matplotlib

Introduction to Numpy, Xarray, and Matplotlib

09:00 Welcome

09:05 Numpy (1)

10:30 Coffee break

10:45 Numpy (1/2)

11:30 Xarray (1)

12:30 Lunch break

13:30 Xarray (1/2)

15:00 Coffee break

15:20 Xarray (1/3)

Thursday 8 October

09:00 → 16:30 Day 4

09:00 Welcome

09:05 Visualization (1)

11:00 Coffee break

11:15 Visualization (1/2)

12:30 Lunch break

13:30 Visualization (2)

15:00 Coffee break

15:15 Visualization (2/2)

Friday 9 October

09:00 → 16:30 Day 5

09:00 Welcome

09:05 Xarray (2)

10:45 Coffee break

11:00 Xarray (2/2)

12:30 Lunch break

13:30 Xarray (2/3)

14:30 Python in action - GLOBAGRIM

An application example

15:15 Time for feedback on the finished course