Yes! A lot of volcanology, no practical astronomy, a great deal of weird science involving black energy ... :D

I like the idea that he's sure there's a Dixingren Li Qian just dying for some good science courses...

Same! I mean, there's a reason I made Li Qian's Dixing mirror in Beyond the Gates, the Mountain upper class, because someone actually in circumstances similar to Li Qian's wouldn't have access to higher education in Dixing.