Anthaea-Grace Patricia Dennis, age 12, is set to graduate from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science, having begun the program when she was just nine years old. (The Canadian Press)

Talking point: Dennis’ mother, Johanna, who as a single mother pursued an academic career by earning several degrees and became a law professor, was instrumental in her daughter’s education. The main highlight of Anthaea-Grace’s academic career so far is a 40-page thesis, which concluded that connectivity between the brain and hand is significantly different for people who are right- versus left-handed. She plans on continuing her research this fall at either McGill University, the University of Toronto or the Illinois Institute of Technology.