Concerns raised over HKU’s ditching of maths-physics and astronomy degrees

The scrapping of two unpopular science courses have sparked concerns from scientists, who argued such move would neglect its social responsibility.

The science faculty said it could no longer afford to offer two major subjects – astronomy and a joint degree in mathematics and physics – starting next year as too few students were choosing them. Less than six students had graduated in either course in the past five years.

It means that astronomy will no longer be available in the city as a major option.

The decision has sparked discussion on whether young people have lost interest in studying science and aspiring to be scientists, and whether educators should provide knowledge regardless of popularity.

A former director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Lam Chiu-ying, accused the school of “operating commercially” and failing in its teaching philosophy.

“A university has a social and cultural responsibility to nurture knowledge even if there is only one student who wants to learn about it,” Lam, who majored in maths and physics in the 1970s, said.