Should I choose Physics and Mathematics or Engineering if my goal is scientific discovery?

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Hello everyone,

I'm a high school student from Iran and I'm at the point where I have to choose my university major. Since I was a teenager, I've been deeply interested in philosophy and understanding the fundamental truths about the world. Over the last few years, I discovered mathematics, physics, biology, and logic, and I realized that science is probably the best way to pursue those questions.

One thing I've also come to believe is that major discoveries often come from working on real-world problems. Solving practical challenges seems to open the door to new scientific ideas, rather than just thinking abstractly.

Because of that, my current plan is to pursue **a bachelor's degree in both Physics and Mathematics**, and then continue with a graduate degree in **Neural Engineering (or Neurotechnology/Brain-Computer Interfaces)**, where I hope to combine fundamental science with real-world applications.

However, my family strongly disagrees with this plan for two reasons:

1. They believe that pure sciences such as physics and mathematics have drifted away from their original purpose of discovering truth and now have limited practical value.

2. They are worried about the economic situation in Iran and believe that choosing pure sciences will make it much harder to build a stable career or immigrate in the future.

I'm genuinely torn. On one hand, I don't want to give up my curiosity and long-term goals. On the other hand, I understand that practical considerations matter.

If you were in my position, what would you do?

* Would you study Physics and Mathematics first and specialize later?

* Or would you choose an engineering major from the beginning?

* For those of you working in research or academia, do you think my plan makes sense, or is there a better path toward making meaningful scientific contributions?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people with different backgrounds and experiences. Thank you!