[Tutor] Introduction to modelling with Python

[Eike Welk]

On Saturday March 27 2010 16:21:26 AG wrote:
> I apologise in advance for the vagueness of this query, but I am looking
> for a decent modern introduction to modelling using Python.
> Specifically, I want something that is a good introduction (i.e. doesn't
> expect one to already be a maths/ statistics or a programming guru) and
> that has an ecology/ environmental science orientation. 

You should look at the book "Python Scripting for Computational Science" by 
Hans Petter Langtangen:
http://www.amazon.com/Python-Scripting-Computational-Science-
Engineering/dp/3540435085
http://books.google.com/books?id=YEoiYr4H2A0C&printsec=frontcover&dq="Python+Scripting+for+Computational+Science"&source=bl&ots=ovp_JKREiY&sig=tJkigCLDqS6voOOjmL4xDxw0roM&hl=en&ei=OlWvS8PmE4r94Aa42vzgDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=&f=false

It is an introduction to the Python language, and to a big number of tools for 
numerical computations. The book assumes that you have already some practice 
in writing computer programs. 

The book is not oriented towards ecology, the examples are from mechanical 
engineering. 

The book is however a bit dated, it's from 2004. Therefore many examples will 
need to be slightly altered to work with the current versions of the libraries 
that they use. 



Alternatively you could ask your question on the Numpy/Scipy mailing lists. 
These lists are frequented by scientists that use Python for their 
computations.  
http://www.scipy.org/Mailing_Lists



Eike.