Re: Where does the 'nerd' fit into the evolutionalry theory?

I think that your question addresses memetics instead of natural selection.  
Many scientist believe that natural selection is not the key mechanism 
concerning human evolution in the present.  Our ability to accumulate 
knowledge, and therefore make impressive progress in (bio)technology, has 
allowed our species to overcome many obstacles faced in the "natural world" 
(i.e. the biosphere minus humans).  In other words you can survive to a 
reproductive age even if you have poor eyesight or can't run faster than a 
lion!  Memetics is when one applies Darwinian evolution to culture and is 
based on the idea of memes.  http://www.memecentral.com/ has 
a nice 
definition of a meme: "Memes are the basic building blocks of our minds and 
culture, in the same way that genes are the basic building blocks of 
biological life."
So now we know what mechanism we must consider when questioning the 
nerds' survival (in actuality the survival of the nerds' culture).  An above 
average I.Q. (as I will try to adhere to the stereotype) may allow an idividual 
to reach a higher social status and obtain a larger income than someone with 
average intelligence.  Being unathletic does not necessarily mean that the 
person is unattractive to the opposite sex and/or unhealthy (in fact being 
athletic may actually hinder a nerd because she/he will lose his/her 
stereotype).  The social awkwardness would be a definite disadvantage and 
I'm not sure how one could benefit from it.  Possibly this consideration is 
outweighed by achievements in social status and income, but perhaps the 
social awkwardness cannot be "selected" against because it is intrinsic to 
obtaining these goals.  If we assume that a significant amount of 
technological advances are the fruits of nerd labor then you could reason 
that nerds (and/or their culture) are absolutely essential to the survival of the 
human species.  Unfortunely, I cannot propose any quantitative answers, but 
qualitatively it seems that the existence of the stereotypical nerd is not 
unreasonable and may be an important factor in human evolution.  Great 
question!  Long live the nerds!
derrick