“Child prodigy” Laurent Simons: Eleven-year-old graduates from his degree in physics with distinction

Enlarge image

Laurent Simons

Photo: Alexander Simons / dpa

Eleven-year-old Laurent Simons successfully completed his physics studies at the Belgian University of Antwerp.

"With the highest distinction," as his father Alexander Simons announced in Amsterdam.

The Belgian-Dutch boy only needed a good year for the workload, which is normally three years.

"It's a great feeling that I did it," Laurent said.

He was particularly interested in quantum physics.

"But I also have a lot of other projects." Now the boy wants to do his master's and then his doctorate.

Laurent Simons is highly talented and graduated from high school at the age of eight.

He then studied electrical engineering at the University of Eindhoven, but broke off at the end of 2019 shortly before completing his bachelor's degree in a dispute with the university management.

After that, he initially wanted to continue studying in Israel, but travel was not possible due to the corona pandemic.

Studying was "great"

more on the subject

• Nine-year-old just before graduation: the child prodigy and his strange parents by Lukas Eberle

• Highly gifted: the whimsical child by Kristin Haug and Anne Martin

Studying in Antwerp was "great," said Laurent.

It had two personal advantages for him: he could visit his grandparents in Flanders regularly and his two dogs could stay with him.

The corona pandemic had hardly affected his studies, said father Alexander Simons.

After all, his son is used to learning independently.

After the summer Laurent wants to do his Masters in Antwerp, too.

A program is tailor-made for him together with universities in Israel, Great Britain and the USA.

Laurent has an ambitious goal: to extend human life.

For example through the development of artificial organs.

lmd / dpa