For which fields $k$ does there exist a proper morphism $S\rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}\:k$ of relative dimension $\leq 2$ such that for every geometrically connected smooth proper $C \rightarrow \mathrm{Spec}\:k$ of relative dimension $1$ there exists a $k$-closed immersion $C\rightarrow S$?
Complex numbers are not such a field (in fact, a stronger result holds), some "massaging" might extend this to all subfields of $\mathbb{C}$. No idea what is going on in $\mathrm{char}\:p$.