An
11-year-old boy nicknamed “Little Einstein” has become the youngest graduate in
quantum physics.
Laurent
Simons, who is half-Belgian and half-Dutch, obtained a bachelor’s degree with
distinction from the University of Antwerp in just 18 months.
Laurent’s
parents are now planning his doctorate, for which he is expected to spend time
in several countries, including Britain.
“As well as his home country, Belgium, he will be studying in the US, Israel and the UK, too,” Alexander Simons, his father, said.
The Israel
connection is due to Laurent’s interest in biotechnology and the UK is for
historical reasons.
“The UK is the foundation of modern civilization. Lots of the world’s best universities are located there so the UK had to be on the list,” Simons said, declining to reveal which university his son would go to.
Laurent said
his lifetime goal was “immortality”, or specifically the creation of technology
that will allow humans to live forever.
“That means replacing as many parts of the body as possible with artificial organs,” he told Dutch TV.
Laurent
started secondary school at six and university at eight. He was enrolled at
Eindhoven university in the Netherlands but switched to Antwerp in Belgium
after a row with authorities over his exam schedule.
His parents
had wanted him to graduate from Eindhoven before December 26, 2019, so he would
become the youngest university graduate ever. The record is held by Michael
Kearney, who graduated in anthropology from the University of Alabama aged 10
in 1994.
Laurent’s
mother, Lydia, has defended the family from accusations that her son should be
having fun rather than studying.
“I can imagine that a lot of people think ‘leave him alone, he is still young’,” she said.
“But people who say that have not had a child like Laurent. Everyone, including psychologists, who want to give advice, just can’t, because there’s never been a case like this before”.
“I find it flattering that people compare me with Einstein,” said Laurent, who has an IQ of 145. “But I think everyone is unique. Einstein is just Einstein and I, Laurent, am just Laurent.”