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{{B}}Unpopular Subjects?{{/B}} Is there a place in today's society for the study of useless subjects in our universities? Just over 100 years ago Fitzgerald argued in a well-written letter{{U}} (51) {{/U}} Nature that "Universities must be allowed to study useless subjects--{{U}} (52) {{/U}} they don't, who will?" He went on to use the{{U}} (53) {{/U}}of Maxwell's electrodynamics (电动力学) as one case where a "useless subject" has been transformed to a useful subject. Nowadays this argument is again very much{{U}} (54) {{/U}}in many universities. Indeed one suspects that it is one of those arguments that must be{{U}} (55) {{/U}} anew (重新) by each generation. But now there is an added twist (歪曲)--subjects must not only be useful, they must also be{{U}} (56) {{/U}}enough that students will flock (蜂拥) to do them, and even flock to pay to do them. As universities become commercial operations, the pressure to{{U}} (57) {{/U}} subjects or departments that are less popular will become stronger and stronger. Perhaps this is most strongly{{U}} (58) {{/U}}at the moment by physics. There has been much{{U}} (59) {{/U}}in the press of universities that are closing down physics departments and incorporate them with mathematics or engineering departments. Many scientists think otherwise. They see physics as a{{U}} (60) {{/U}}science, which must be kept alive if only to{{U}} (61) {{/U}}a base for other sciences and engineering. It is of their great personal concern that physics teaching and research is under{{U}} (62) {{/U}}in many universities. How can it be preserved in the rush towards commercial competition? A major turnaround (转变) in student popularity may have to{{U}} (63) {{/U}}until the industrial world discovers that it needs physicists and starts paying them well. Physics is now not only unpopular; it is also "hard". We can de more about the latter by{{U}} (64) {{/U}}teaching in our schools and universities. We can also{{U}} (65) {{/U}} cooperative arrangements to ensure that physicists keep their research and teaching up to date. |