If you ever have the privilege to visit Konkkuk University in Korea what else would you have loved to see? Or who will you like to meet. Well, maybe you should not think too hard because there is someone you should meet. She is Alia Subair, the world youngest professor
. She is 19.
Perhaps in Alia Sabur’s wildly advanced studies she came across a famous quote from a German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which says “Knowing is not enough. We must apply.”That could serve as explanation for what prompted the 19-year-old to become the youngest college professor in history.
Perhaps in Alia Sabur’s wildly advanced studies she came across a famous quote from a German writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which says “Knowing is not enough. We must apply.”That could serve as explanation for what prompted the 19-year-old to become the youngest college professor in history.
Sabur, from Northport, N.Y., has clearly been ahead of the learning curve since an early age. Report had it that she started talking and reading when she was just 8 months old. She had elementary school finished at age 5. She made the jump to college at age 10. And by age 14, Sabur was earning a bachelor’s of science degree in applied mathematics from Stony Brook University - the youngest female in U.S. history to do so. Her education continued at Drexel University, where she earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering.
With an unlimited future ahead of her, Sabur directed her first career choice to teaching. She was three days short of her 19th birthday in February when she was hired to become a professor at Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea. In traditional Korean culture, children are considered to be 1 year old when they are born, and add a year to their age every New Year instead of their actual birthday, so in Korea Sabur is considered 20.This distinction made her the youngest college professor in history, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, beating the previous record held by Colin Maclaurin- the student of physicist Isaac Newton in 1717.
Sabur said she is merely gravitating toward putting what she has learned to good use. At Konkuk University, She said she will take part in classroom instruction, but will also focus on research into developing nanotubes for use as cellular probes that could aid cures for diseases.
On top of her unprecedented academic achievements, Sabur has a black belt in the Korean martial art of tae kwon do and is also a music prodigy. She has been playing clarinet with orchestras since her solo debut at age 11, playing with recording artists Lang Lang and Smash Mouth. So is there anything Sabur can’t do? Well, I won’t be surprised if you say nothing but I’m sorry to disappoint you, she struggles with basketball and with long writing. In fact, sometimes she forgets just how special she really is.
With an unlimited future ahead of her, Sabur directed her first career choice to teaching. She was three days short of her 19th birthday in February when she was hired to become a professor at Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea. In traditional Korean culture, children are considered to be 1 year old when they are born, and add a year to their age every New Year instead of their actual birthday, so in Korea Sabur is considered 20.This distinction made her the youngest college professor in history, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, beating the previous record held by Colin Maclaurin- the student of physicist Isaac Newton in 1717.
Sabur said she is merely gravitating toward putting what she has learned to good use. At Konkuk University, She said she will take part in classroom instruction, but will also focus on research into developing nanotubes for use as cellular probes that could aid cures for diseases.
On top of her unprecedented academic achievements, Sabur has a black belt in the Korean martial art of tae kwon do and is also a music prodigy. She has been playing clarinet with orchestras since her solo debut at age 11, playing with recording artists Lang Lang and Smash Mouth. So is there anything Sabur can’t do? Well, I won’t be surprised if you say nothing but I’m sorry to disappoint you, she struggles with basketball and with long writing. In fact, sometimes she forgets just how special she really is.
An amazing teenager you would say, however the big question is if we can look forward to having this kind of achievement in Africa? Well the likes of Reuben Abati of Guardian newspaper who had his Ph.D at 26 are indications that we are closer to the Olympia height if we are able to change our education sector for better. Where long strike of lecturers will move the government and public office holders will bring their children from other land to learn side by side with an average Nigerian child in those classrooms provided by our governments for our public schools. It will really be a dream come true.
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