diff --git a/check_env.py b/check_env.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..357cc20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/check_env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import sys
+import importlib
+
+OK = "\x1b[42m[ OK ]\x1b[0m"
+FAIL = "\x1b[41m[FAIL]\x1b[0m"
+
+try:
+    from packaging.version import Version
+except ImportError:
+    print(FAIL, "'packaging' package not installed, install it with conda or pip")
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+# first check the python version
+print("Using python in", sys.prefix)
+print(sys.version)
+pyversion_str = f"{sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor}"
+pyversion = Version(pyversion_str)
+
+if pyversion < Version("3.8"):
+    print(
+        FAIL,
+        "Python version 3.8 or above is required," f" but {pyversion_str} is installed.",
+    )
+    sys.exit(1)
+print()
+
+
+def import_version(pkg, min_ver, fail_msg=""):
+    mod = None
+    try:
+        mod = importlib.import_module(pkg)
+        if pkg in {"PIL"}:
+            try:
+                ver = mod.__version__
+            except AttributeError:
+                try:
+                    ver = mod.VERSION
+                except AttributeError:
+                    try:
+                        ver = mod.PILLOW_VERSION
+                    except Exception:
+                        raise
+        else:
+            ver = mod.__version__
+        if Version(ver) < Version(min_ver):
+            print(
+                FAIL,
+                f"{lib} version {min_ver} or higher required, but {ver} installed.",
+            )
+        else:
+            print(OK, f"{pkg} version {ver}")
+    except ImportError:
+        print(FAIL, f"{pkg} not installed. {fail_msg}")
+    return mod
+
+
+requirements = {
+    "numpy": "1.16",
+    "scipy": "1.2",
+    "matplotlib": "3.0",
+    "sklearn": "1.2",
+    "pandas": "1",
+    "seaborn": "0.11",
+    "notebook": "5.7",
+    "plotly": "5.10",
+}
+
+# now the dependencies
+for lib, required_version in list(requirements.items()):
+    import_version(lib, required_version)