Originally Posted by
Hammer 
Just make sure he gets Good Exposure to Real Math and Science Topics.
I'm a math nerd. Love it; could never understand why people were afraid of it. It's simply learning another language.
And physics... geometry.... Helps when playing pool, too. (Just saying... and remembering 'friendly' games in college with arrogant boys who thought a girl needed a guy to show her how to play and that they could win a few bucks off her.
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For Christmas, I bought DS (9yo) the book "I Wish I Knew That: Math, Cool Stuff You Need to Know" It may not have been his most cherished gift, but it's picked up each night to read with a notebook at hand. So, YAY! Probably doesn't hurt that Momma's reading James Gleick and Michio Kaku.
may not be solid exposure, but it helps to make it fun, which will hopefully stick as he rises through the grades.
Right role models? Grits, it doesn't have to be a guy. My nephew's Best Friend (DON'T say GF, I remind myself) is a quirky, beautiful, nerdy girl who is helping to design games professionally. She's awesome! Listening to her and nephew talk is amazing, hilarious and humbling. (They know soooo much already!) And nerdiness translates well across genres: math, history, physics, languages... It is after all just being enthusiastic about a subject without caring if others truly understand the interest.