Conformity is orthogonal to nerdiness. I was absolutely a nerd in High School. I was also a non-conformist. I gave respect based on merit and admiration. That s

Conformity is orthogonal to nerdiness. I was absolutely a nerd in High School. I was also a non-conformist. I gave respect based on merit and admiration. That style of respect (or lack thereof) got me in hot water with more than one teacher. In fact, most of my nerd friends are some of the most non-conformist people I know. If you depend on admiration and popularity from your classmates then you will desperately cling to someone else's perception of "cool." The nerds go their own ways. On your dinosaur-island, the nerd probably knows how to find clean water, build a shelter, start a fire, and set a trap. And how to make a dinosaur-slaying weapon from the wreckage of your plane. Sounds like a lot more help than some "non-conformist" who doesn't know anything outside of the High School popularity game.