What is R?

R is a software environment for statistical analysis that enables users to conduct both simple and complex data analyses reproducibly and transparently.

In addition to the most common statistical analysis methods and graphics, which are also available in commercial packages such as SPSS, R also provides a wide range of more specialized methods in the form of add-on packages. Unlike commercial products, R is free opensource software that is continuously being improved and extended by a large circle of statistics experts. R is based on a flexible programming environment, and thus also allows users to implement their own functions and to conduct simulation studies.

R is used at universities with great success in both research and teaching, and more and more companies are discovering the potential of R for their data analyses as a Nature article explains.

The Zurich R Courses offer a platform for established and experienced lecturers of UZH and ETH as well as invited experts, who explain the application of R and its statistical background in a way that is understandable and applicable in practice.In the Zurich R Courses, a series of both introductory and advanced courses on statistical data analysis with R are offered on a regular basis.