Hello again,
This week has been very similar to the previous week, except I finished the course I was taking online. It was great completing the basics of Python because, as I will talk about in a minute, getting to the more specific and complex aspects of Python would be nearly impossible. With that being said, after finishing the course on codeacademy.com, I moved to reading a book called Doing Math with Python. Originally, I had planned on reading Python Crash Course: A Hands-on, Project-based Introduction to Programming, but I found Doing Math with Python this week and considered it better for my project.
I started the book on Tuesday, and so far, this book is teaching me everything I'll need to know when it comes to creating a program for determining the Hubble Constant. I had developed the basics for Python, but now, I have shifted to an area for application. As I go, I am learning how to create new programs but not as complex as the Pig Latin Translator, of course.
In a larger perspective, I think that trying to understand a new programming language is important, not only to me but to everyone. If it ends up that the data my advisor gives me doesn't need a program for calculations, at least I had begun to understand a programming language used by scientists all over the world. If I do continue my love for astronomy in my college years, I'll be at an advantage, for I will be familiar with a program astronomers use daily. In other words, if I don't use it now, I'll be definitely be using it in the future. I think everyone should learn Python because we live in a technological world, and having programming knowledge will put you further ahead than a majority of people. Learn Python, it's amazing! Plus, to all those language lovers, Python's syntax is very similar to our English.
I am excited, and frankly, a little nervous for next week. On February 23, I will be making my way into the ASU lab for a tour. I believe I will also be attending a meeting with astronomers, so I'll have an opportunity to meet several people working in the field. The one thing I hope for is that I don't walk out of there feeling discouraged. Astronomers are extremely smart people, and I hope that they realize that I have not ventured too far into the astronomical world. It's hard to explain, but I think you understand what I am trying to say. I'm jumping into a sophisticated (I am not saying that no other fields are sophisticated) and complex field, and I don't want to appear as, for the lack of a better word, idiotic.
I hope everyone is having a great time with their senior project, I know I am. Catch up with me next week, for I will tell my experiences at the lab.
Regards,
Max Biwer
This week has been very similar to the previous week, except I finished the course I was taking online. It was great completing the basics of Python because, as I will talk about in a minute, getting to the more specific and complex aspects of Python would be nearly impossible. With that being said, after finishing the course on codeacademy.com, I moved to reading a book called Doing Math with Python. Originally, I had planned on reading Python Crash Course: A Hands-on, Project-based Introduction to Programming, but I found Doing Math with Python this week and considered it better for my project.
I started the book on Tuesday, and so far, this book is teaching me everything I'll need to know when it comes to creating a program for determining the Hubble Constant. I had developed the basics for Python, but now, I have shifted to an area for application. As I go, I am learning how to create new programs but not as complex as the Pig Latin Translator, of course.
In a larger perspective, I think that trying to understand a new programming language is important, not only to me but to everyone. If it ends up that the data my advisor gives me doesn't need a program for calculations, at least I had begun to understand a programming language used by scientists all over the world. If I do continue my love for astronomy in my college years, I'll be at an advantage, for I will be familiar with a program astronomers use daily. In other words, if I don't use it now, I'll be definitely be using it in the future. I think everyone should learn Python because we live in a technological world, and having programming knowledge will put you further ahead than a majority of people. Learn Python, it's amazing! Plus, to all those language lovers, Python's syntax is very similar to our English.
I am excited, and frankly, a little nervous for next week. On February 23, I will be making my way into the ASU lab for a tour. I believe I will also be attending a meeting with astronomers, so I'll have an opportunity to meet several people working in the field. The one thing I hope for is that I don't walk out of there feeling discouraged. Astronomers are extremely smart people, and I hope that they realize that I have not ventured too far into the astronomical world. It's hard to explain, but I think you understand what I am trying to say. I'm jumping into a sophisticated (I am not saying that no other fields are sophisticated) and complex field, and I don't want to appear as, for the lack of a better word, idiotic.
I hope everyone is having a great time with their senior project, I know I am. Catch up with me next week, for I will tell my experiences at the lab.
Regards,
Max Biwer
Hey Max! I'm pleased to hear that your having a great time with your senior project. Also, don't be surprised that you feeling nervous about next week. In fact, it's something I've been researching since I've been here in D.C, and it's the relationships between students and their teachers. What I've found is that often times, it may be intimidating from a students perspective, to approach a teacher in subject area they are not comfortable with. While these scientist may not be your school teachers, they do in fact work in a field that many people become intimidated by because they aren't comfortable with the amount of knowledge they have in that particular field of study. From our relationship, I think you are very well informed about the astronomical field, and my only piece of advice for dealing with your nervousness is to have remember that the people you are meeting with next week are resources and will hopefully be willing to assist you in any way possible. More importantly, ask a lot of questions and just have fun. While these astronomers may be very bright and intelligent human beings like you, at the end of the day, they are people just like you and me. If all else fails, find a way to connect with them on a personal level and remember to have a great time! I wish you the best of luck next week in the lab, and I look forward to hearing more about your research!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making great progress in the past two weeks! I also wanted to wish you the best of luck on your tour. Don't forget to speak up and show them what you know!! As always, I look forward to hearing more about your project.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear that you were able to officially complete your online course! In finding the significance of learning new programming language, you seem to be really passionate about this overlap of programming and astronomy, and I'm truly excited to see where this takes you. Good luck at ASU next week, I'm sure you'll easily impress them, and I hope meeting with astronomers serves as an inspiration for you and your future goals!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that you were able to learn so much programming knowledge in a short amount of time. Also, don't be nervous about meeting with astronomers next week because I'm sure that they would be more than happy to help you with your project.
ReplyDeleteMax, I'm proud of you for taking so much initiative in learning Python! (You almost have me convinced to study programming over the summer...almost.) I agree that learning the programming is valuable for your future, even if you do not end up studying astronomy, for all scientific fields - and, as you say, most other fields these days - use some sort of technology that requires programming. You will be great meeting with the astronomers this week! Don't be timid; don't be hard on yourself. You are a highly intelligent young man, and the scientists will both understand that you are young and appreciate that you are working to learn as much as you can at your young age. Don't be intimidated by them! Yes, they are smart, some probably even brilliant, but they are still people; they are still fallible, just like the rest of us. They are going to love you, I'm sure, just as we all do here at BASIS. Go forth and conquer!
ReplyDeleteMax, I wonder if you could elaborate a bit more on what you mean when you say that Python follows very similar patterns as English?
ReplyDeleteBy saying it is similar to English, I'm talking about arguments. If an argument is not formatted correctly in English, people will not understand. Similarly, Python will not function if the arguments are incorrect and do not make sense. Python is also very strict with punctuation, and if the punctuation (like commas) is not placed accordingly, the program will not be able to comprehend what you are trying to say. Hope this helps!
DeleteCongratulations on your achievement. Remember, you have to use it constantly or else you will forget. All the best.
ReplyDelete