NYT Article Featuring Anderegg Stirs Debate
When a New York Times reporter reached out to psychology faculty member David Anderegg for a on America's need for more "cool nerds"鈥攜oung people who can meld computing skills with other fields鈥擜nderegg pointed out one obvious problem.
In America, the phrase "cool nerds" is an oxymoron.
"A geek suggests a person with special expertise, while nerd suggests social ineptness ... neither are cool."
Because of the brainy stereotypes associated with courses in math, science, and computer science, Anderegg said, young people "sabotage themselves in these fields, and the nation's work force is suffering."
Anderegg, who authored the book , said the answer to this problem "is to put to bed [the words] 'nerd' and 'geek.'"
The story, which can be read , has sparked debate on news sites and blogs (including ) around the world.
For more on David Anderegg, click here.