Scientists have endlessly debated the topic and groups have convened conferences on the issue— how to get more women to major in computer science. The field is overwhelmingly dominated by men.
Now a computer-science club at Washington State University has come up with a creative solution to the problem. The university’s Linux Users Group has decided to hold a “nerd auction” later next month to support scholarships for women interested in taking computer-science classes at the university.
During the auction, male computer-science students will auction themselves off to interested buyers —presumably women—who will get homework help, computer help, or a date.
Women from six sororities on campus have agreed to cosponsor the event and prepare the nerds for the auction block with head-to-toe makeovers.
“Everybody is incredibly excited about this,” said Ben Ford, a graduate student at the university who is helping to organize the event. —Andrea L. Foster
