Fishery Science

FW8448, Fall Semester, 2007

Creative Computing

As recently as 30 years ago, students in the "natural resource" disciplines would question the notion that they would be required to "use computers" to further their education in resource management. Today, computing proficiency is so well-developed in our undergraduate students that basic skills in using application programs are assumed in the formation of curricula at the university. So too is it assumed that students know how to find the information underlying their disciplinary interests, by combining traditional networking and library skills with broad access to global internet resources. As the digital world around us has changed so rapidly and dramatically in the immediate past, it is worthwhile to reflect upon the reasons why it is important to continue to develop computer language skills in parallel with other professional tools.

Here is a simple rationale for learning a programming language. 

• Computer programs themselves are an important medium for exchange of information
• Programs which are well-written may be very flexible in their applications.  The same program may be used (in various forms) many times with different inputs.  Sub-programs may be "borrowed" for use in other applications.
• Computer programs can guide the user through the set(s) of constraints or assumptions applicable to a specific problem.  This is essential for many analytical or modelling purposes in ecology.
• Programming  in no longer scary.

The sense of "programming language" has changed greatly in the recent past.  Only a few years ago, the only "languages" that qualified were the high-level algorithmic languages such as FORTRAN, Basic, ALGOL, C, Pascal and some others less commonly used in science and engineering.  Today, we can reasonably include the "macro" languages that accompany some of the major application programs.  For this course, any of the languages above would satisfy the requirement for a programming language.  It is likely that you would find it more productive to choose a language (environment) like R or TeX if you are in the early stages of your graduate program, simply because you will find immediate and continuing application for these tools in completing the balance of your graduate degrees. Other choices are possible, of course. Among the most useful of the macro languages or application programs for this course would be Mathematica™, especially if you are interested in the mathematical or statistical foundations of fisheries statistics or stock assessment.  While we will certainly use commonplace application programs such as spreadsheets or word processors in our daily work, these will be contrasted with more demanding programming environments in order to emphasize the benefits in gaining mastery of more sophisticated programming tools.