A 9-YEAR-OLD boy who is set to become the youngest ever person to complete a degree, is inundated by offers from the world's top universities for post-graduate studies.

Laurent Simons from Amsterdam, who is currently studying for a degree in electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology, is set to graduate next month after completing his studies in just nine months. He has an IQ of at least 145.

Laurent who completed secondary school aged 8, is set to finish his first degree in December and will take the title of the world's youngest graduate from Michael Kearney, who gained a degree from the University of Alabama at the age of 10.

The youngster, who completed high school at the age of 8 after completing the entire programme in 18 months, has hopes of one day becoming an astronaut or heart surgeon.

He told The Telegraph that he wants to travel to California to continue his studies because the weather is good there, but his father Alexander is also keen to consider moving to the UK.

“Oxford and Cambridge are also in the major league and it would be very much more convenient for us,” the 37-year-old dentist said.

He said: “Laurent's aim is to do a PhD into life extension, by carrying out research into artificial organs and robotics. It would be great if he could study in the UK.”

Laurent, who was born in Belgium, has been labelled a child genius and compared to Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. He can also speak four languages.

He admitted that he and Laurent's mother Lydia, 29, who works as an office manager said that it was his grandparents who first noticed their son's abilities.

The parents thought they were just championing the youngster like all proud grandparents, but Laurent turned out to be uniquely gifted.

He started school aged 4, and then completed the next five years of study in the space of just 12 months.

Professor Peter Baltus, his current tutor, claims that he is at least three times smarter than the next most intelligent student he's met in his lengthy career.

Switzerland-based professor John Wilkes, who taught Laurent in summer courses, also revealed he would advise the child to study at Oxford University.

A Dean of Academics at the American University in Switzerland, John studied at Jesus College at the historic institution.

He said: “I taught him when he was 6 and we studied at the level of a 16 year-old.

“I really would recommend Oxford for him.

“He would develop somewhere the environment is (all) about learning, rather than being taught. For someone like Laurent, that is ideal.”

Laurent, who has a photographic memory, enjoys maths and science, and has ambitions to revolutionise cardiac surgery because both his grandparents have heart problems.

Outside of his studies, he spends time playing games such as Fortnite and Minecraft in addition to watching Netflix and hanging out with his friends. –Daily Mail

Source: New Straits Times  

BDST: 1955 HRS, NOV 15, 2019

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