In the autumn of 2026 we are teaching an online course about theory and applications of least-squares fitting, organized by the Mineralogy Laboratory of the Dept. Earth Sciences & Environment, University of Pavia.
The course is designed for masters and PhD students in Earth Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering but postdocs and researchers are also welcome. The course will provide research students with an understanding of the theory of the principles and application of linear and non-linear least-squares fitting of all kinds of relatively precise data, including voulme-pressure data for Equations of State, spectral peak fitting, and the principles behind Rietveld analysis.
We will emphasise the distinction between uncertainties and errors in data and parameters. Topics will also include combining datasets, evaluating models, correct reporting of uncertainties, correlation and the variance-covariance matrix, and uncertainty propagation.
On completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the meaning of uncertainties versus errors of data and parameters.
- Understand the principles of linear and non-linear least-squares fitting of any data.
- Perform linear and non-linear least-squares analysis of data, including peak fitting for spectroscopy.
- Critically analyse data and the parameters and their uncertainties obtained by fitting data.
- Understand what a PV EoS is and does, what the parameters mean, and how to determine them with EosFit.
The course will be taught in English. No prior knowledge is required of elasticity or EoS. A normal level of mathematics for PhD students in sciences will be assumed.
- The course will consist of 10 lectures of 90 minutes held twice a week, normally on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- The first lecture will be on Tuesday 10th November.
- You can receive 5 credits through the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) by completing the course including the question sheets and passing the final written exam.
- The course is free, but numbers will be limited.
- If you want to attend the online lectures you must register on this google form.