Fogler Library Faculty Newsletter 11-28-18

Data Visualization with R and Python, Introduction to Computer Programming, Hot Topics: Plastics and the Environment

In this issue:

  1. Data Visualization with R and Python
  2. Introduction to Computer Programming
  3. Hot Topics: Plastics and the Environment

 

1. Data Visualization with R and Python
Date & Time: Thursday, November 29, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Fogler Library Classroom 1

This hands-on session will cover basic plotting capacities of R and Python including bar chart, histogram plot, box and whisker plot, scatter plot and much more. This workshop is presented in collaboration with UMaine’s Advanced Computing Group. We recommend bringing fully charged laptops, with R and RStudio already installed. Laptops will be available for attendees who need to borrow one. If you would prefer to attend via Adobe Connect instead, email acg@maine.edu.

About the Presenter
Dr. Bruce A. Maxwell started exploring computer science as an undergraduate at Swarthmore College. He went on to obtain an M.Phil. in Speech Recognition at Cambridge University and a Ph.D. in Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. He taught for two years at the University of North Dakota and nine years at Swarthmore College before going to Colby College in the fall of 2007. His interests include robotics, computer vision, computer graphics, scientific data analysis and visualization.

2. Introduction to Computer Programming: Make Online Snowflakes With the Hour of Code
Date & Time: Thursday, December 6, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Fogler Library Classroom 1

Celebrate the winter season and the worldwide Hour of Code at Fogler Library. In this introductory, hands-on workshop, learn how to use the programming language Python to draw snowflakes on your screen. No previous coding experience required. We recommend bringing fully charged laptops, with Python already installed. Laptops will be available for attendees who need to borrow one.

About the Presenter
Kendra Bird, a Faculty Associate in Anthropology and a member of the Fogler Library Circulation staff, has been coding off and on since she was a child. Her recent experience includes a two-year stint as a software developer at the Virtual Environment and Multimodal Interaction (VEMI) Lab on campus, as well as some Python and PHP coursework. She enjoys teaching people about coding and emerging technology.

3. Hot Topics: Plastics and the Environment
The Fogler Library Reference and Information Literacy Department has published a new guide that may be useful in your courses. Hot Topics: Plastics and the Environmentcontains introductory readings, statistics, and other resources to help anyone researching the effect plastics have on the environment.