After the school affairs meeting in the morning, Zhou Hexuan accepted Zhong Guangguang's invitation in the afternoon to inspect various departments, libraries, laboratories, and specimen rooms in the school.?
Zhou Hexuan said nothing during the walk. In fact, he felt that Peking University had too many liberal arts majors and too few science and engineering majors, which was obviously too biased.
But there is no way, universities all over China are like this now.
Liberal arts are cheap, and can be done with teachers and textbooks. Science and engineering are very troublesome, various experiments are too expensive, and some high-end scientific instruments and equipment are also in short supply. Students in science and engineering must study abroad and stay in the country if they want to go further.
There is absolutely no way to conduct research in China.
When we came to the Department of Physics, Li Shuhua, the dean of the Department of Physics, introduced: "The Department of Physics had seven professors and lecturers last year, but due to various reasons, there are only three left this year, including me, the head of the department."
"Can you teach me?" Zhou Hexuan asked.
"I can barely cope with it," Li Shuhua said with a smile. "Each teacher teaches at least five courses at the same time. For example, I teach "Mathematical Principles", "General Physics", "Physical Optics", "Electrodynamics", and "Theoretical Mechanics"
and "Specialized Physics Experiments."
Zhou Hexuan felt a little sad when he heard this. These are teachers who are worthy of admiration.
Science and engineering professors like Li Shuhua cannot make money by writing articles or going out to give lectures, so they only rely on teachers’ salaries every month. With their wages often being owed for several months, many of them have to borrow money even to eat.
But he can still teach several courses at the same time.
If they go to the south, they can easily improve their lives. The reason why they stay is because they have responsibilities and are reluctant to abandon their students.
At this time, get out of class was over. Zhou Hexuan walked into the classroom and opened a textbook "Current and Electron Theory in Gases". He was surprised to find that this book was actually in English. He couldn't help but ask: "Department of Physics, Peking University" Are they all English textbooks?”
Li Shuhua replied: "There are some textbooks, but they are translated according to the rules."
"Students use English textbooks in class, won't there be communication barriers?" Zhou Hexuan asked curiously.
"Communication barriers do not exist. For students studying engineering, knowing English is the foundation of the foundation," Li Shuhua said. "It's just that the content and system in some textbooks are inconsistent with our actual situation in China, especially when it comes to life, production and experiments."
part."
Zhou Hexuan asked: "Is this true only at Peking University, or is it true across all universities in China?"
Li Shuhua explained: "This is the case across the country. Science and engineering textbooks are dominated by English textbooks, supplemented by textbooks."
Zhou Hexuan frowned and said, "Have you ever thought about compiling a set of science and engineering textbooks?"
"I have thought about it, who wouldn't?" Li Shuhua said with a helpless smile, "Unfortunately, the amount of the project is too large, and it must be organized and promoted by the government."
Zhou Hexuan said: "The government can't take care of it, but it can contact Tsinghua University, and Tsinghua University and Peking University will set up a 'Chinese textbook compilation group'. Professors will use their spare time, combined with China's actual conditions, to compile our China's science and engineering materials
Science textbooks. After these textbooks are compiled, I will be responsible for promoting them, and they will be published and printed by the Peking University Publishing Department. As for the editor's manuscript fee, it can be paid in one lump sum, or the royalties can be calculated based on the number of prints."
"Of course that's good," Li Shuhua said happily, "If we can compile textbooks, all engineering students in China will benefit."
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "You should contact the teachers of science and engineering first. If you are willing to compile textbooks, please submit their names. I will go to Tsinghua University tomorrow. Let's take our time and compile physics textbooks first, and then we will work on chemistry, geology, etc.
Mechanical and other subjects.”
Li Shuhua took action immediately and told Zhou Hexuan's idea, and several other physics teachers all agreed. They had too many classes during the day and could not spare any time, so they had to work on compiling textbooks at night.
The next morning, Zhou Hexuan came to Tsinghua Academy. Even old friends like Liang Qi didn't have time to visit him and went directly to the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University.
He was received by a handsome young man under the age of 18, who was Ye Qisun, the dean of the Department of Physics at Tsinghua University and one of the founders of modern physics in China.
Ye Qisun was in a suit and leather shoes, with a 28-parted comb, and made the tea ceremony himself: "Mr. Zhou, I have admired your name for a long time, I never thought you would come to my place as a guest."
"It's a bit abrupt, coming without saying hello in advance." Zhou Hexuan apologized.
"Haha, I'm not a government official here, so I don't need to notify you in advance." Ye Qisun joked.
Zhou Hexuan immediately explained his purpose: "Professor Ye, it's like this. Since most Chinese physics textbooks use English versions, teaching is not very convenient. So I want to compile a set of textbooks that are in line with China's reality. Peking University lacks the ability, and I hope to cooperate with Tsinghua University.
.”
"This is a good thing," Ye Qisun said happily, but said awkwardly, "To be honest, there are only a few physics teachers at Tsinghua University, so I'm afraid they won't be of much help."
The Department of Physics at Tsinghua University was established last year and is extremely short of faculty. Except for Ye Qisun, the head of the Department of Physics, there is only one professor (Mei Yiqi), two lecturers (Zhao Zhongyao, Zheng Yanfen) and one teaching assistant (Shi Ruwei).
Things are even worse at Peking University. Although there are only three teachers left in the Physics Department of Peking University, they are all at professor level.
Zhou Hexuan said: "It doesn't matter. There is strength in numbers, as long as you are willing to help. And I can't let everyone's efforts go in vain. There is a royalties for compiling teaching materials. I hope Professor Sun can support it."
"Of course I support this matter, please rest assured, Mr. Zhou." Ye Qisun promised.
Ye Qisun is also a god. As the founder of the Department of Physics at Tsinghua University and one of the founders of modern physics in China, he is not only proficient in physics, but also has a thorough knowledge of the calendar and the Four Books and Five Classics. He also received a doctorate in philosophy from Harvard University.
In the 100-year history of Tsinghua University, Ye Qisun, Pan Guangdan, Chen Yinke, and Mei Yiqi are collectively known as the four great philosophers.
Zhou Hexuan stayed at Peking University for five days this time, helping to change the Peking University Publishing Department to Peking University Press, and participated in the founding meeting of the Peking University Scientific Research Department. Finally, he took the lead in cooperating with Tsinghua University and Peking University to establish the "Chinese University Textbook Compilation Group."
Although the time was short, Zhou Hexuan felt that it was extremely fulfilling and much more meaningful than writing articles for newspapers in Tianjin.
All these tasks require money. In his own name, Zhou Hexuan advanced 1,000 oceans to the "Textbook Compilation Team" for daily contact with professors and advance manuscript fees. He also donated 2,000 oceans to the Peking University Research Department, who purchased materials and conducted experiments.
It costs money.
As for Peking University Press, Zhou Hexuan does not need to provide money for the time being. Peking University has its own "student bank", and the money in the student bank is enough for Peking University Press's initial expenses.
After everything was settled, Zhou Hexuan had time to visit friends in Peking, and then went with Zhang Taiyan to meet the famous Gu Hongming.8