Mateusz Malenta, 05.11.2020

Abstract: Do you think that 'the terminal' is a 2004 hit film starring Tom Hanks? Or a portal to another dimension? Does a 'super user' sound like a really bad name for a superhero? Does running 'rm -rf --no-preserve-root /' sound like a good idea to you (PLEASE DO NOT RUN THIS!)? Then this JACS session is for you! Learn the essential Linux commands to help you with your daily activities. Linux might feel a bit difficult and unfamiliar at first, but even after this short session you should be comfortable with managing your files, dealing with some minor software issues and solving some small problems, such as desktop icons disappearing for no reason at all.

Anthony Holloway, 12.11.2020

Abstract: When you need more power than your desktop can provide, the next place to look is High Performance Computing. The session will look at what facilities we have available at JBCA and to what purposes they are dedicated.

We will look at the methods and issues involved in moving from a serial code to a parallel code and how that can speed up your processing. There will also be a look at what options you have if your processing outgrows the JBCA facilities.

Adam Avison, 19.11.2020

Abstract: In the era of ALMA, LOFAR, JVLA and the upcoming SKA the cutting edge of radio and mm astronomy is based on interferometric observations. In this JACS session Adam will give a whistle stop tour of why we build interferometers, how they work and a background to interferometric data processing.

Mateusz Malenta, 26.11.2020

In this session I will cover the best practices and options for making sure your work is safely backed up and up-to-date. I will introduce the general idea of version control systems and the benefits of using git for this task. I will cover the basic terminology, such as branching, merging, forking, etc. and all the essential commands to start using git for your projects. I will also discuss various hosting options and GUIs that can help you to quickly integrate git into your project without the need for learning new commands and using the command line interface.

Ian Harrison, 03.12.2020

This session will be a short introduction to Bayesian statistics, both the philosophy and useful methods. I will start with an introduction to why the Bayesian way of thinking about probability and statistics makes more sense than the more traditional (in many fields) frequentist approach (and give a reading list in case you need more convincing). I will then introduce some useful Bayesian methods for analysing astronomical data, showing how you can robustly constrain a physical model, give sensible uncertainties, and chose between competing models. We will also have a look at some Monte Carlo methods for computing these things, and ready-made packages you can download to do so efficiently.

George Bendo, 10.12.2020

Slides are here!

This talk will review several topics related to paper writing. I will first review LaTeX, which is the mark-up language used for professional paper writing. I will then describe the typical outline of an astronomy paper. I then conclude with some writing tips and some discussion on the practical aspects of publishing a paper.

Luke Hart and Beth Jones, 17.12.2020

07.01.2021

14.01.2021

21.01.2021