Teacher: professor Ross Angel
The course will be taught in English, completely online and is open to anyone. The course is designed for PhD students in Earth Sciences, Physics and Chemistry but MSc students, postdocs and researchers are also welcome. A normal level of mathematics for PhD students in sciences will be assumed. Pre-registration is required.

Lecturer
The course will be taught by Ross Angel of the CNR Institute of Geosciences, the developer of the EosFit suite of programs. His cv is available at www.rossangel.com

Topics
In the first half of the course, the principles and application of linear least-squares fitting of data will be introduced, with emphasis on 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. The second half of the course will apply these principles to non-linear least-squares analysis of quantitative data obtained in geological research with an emphasis on PV Equations of State.

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.

Logistics

• The course consists of 10 lectures of 90 minutes held twice a week online, normally on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The first lecture will be on Tuesday 10th November 2026.
• The lectures will be recorded and made available to registered students.
• Students can receive 5 CFUs or 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 participate in the course you must register by October 30th at this LINK
• After registration you will receive a link to access the lectures through the zoom platform.