Laurent Simons, a child prodigy from the Belgian town of Ostend, has obtained his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Antwerp, summa cum laude, at the age of 11.
Simons only took a year to complete the bachelor’s degree, which usually takes at least three years.
“I don’t really care if I’m the youngest,” Simons told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “For me, it’s all about acquiring knowledge.”
“I had started some courses on classical mechanics and quantum physics. I immediately wanted to know everything about it. I’ve now put all my other work on hold in order to delve into it … This is the first puzzle piece in my goal of replacing body parts with mechanical parts,” Simons said.
“Immortality” is his goal, the child prodigy said. “I want to be able to replace as many body parts as possible with mechanical parts.”
“I’ve mapped out a path to get there,” he said. “You can see it as a big puzzle. Quantum physics – the study of the smallest particles – is the first piece of the puzzle.” To solve that puzzle, he said, “I want to work with the best professors in the world, look inside their brains, and find out how they think.”
Movies and TV shows about child prodigies
Laurent Simons has captured the world’s attention with his extraordinary intellectual feats. ANd it’s no surprise that movies and TV shows have long been fascinated with the concept of child prodigies.
These stories range from the comedic antics of young geniuses dramatic portrayals of the challenges faced by exceptionally gifted children, reflecting our society’s admiration and curiosity for the profoundly gifted. A few examples are below:
Movies:
- Gifted (2017): This film tells the story of Mary Adler, a young girl with exceptional mathematical abilities.
- Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993): This movie is based on the life of chess prodigy Joshua Waitzkin.
- Little Man Tate (1991): Directed by and starring Jodie Foster, this movie focuses on a young boy genius and his struggles to fit in.
- A Brilliant Young Mind (2014): This British drama is about a teenage math prodigy who has difficulty understanding people but finds comfort in numbers.
TV Shows:
- Young Sheldon (2017–2024): A spin-off prequel to “The Big Bang Theory,” this show follows the early life of child prodigy Sheldon Cooper in East Texas.
- Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006): The sitcom features Malcolm, a boy with a genius-level IQ navigating life with his dysfunctional family.
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