Come back and check for updates as I'll be adding to this list as I find more neat things to add.
1. A caffeine coffee mug
OK, so it's not the most original gift, but to be frank, in all my years of working alongside scientists I've only seen a caffeine mug two or three times.
You're probably not going to go wrong getting your favorite science guy or gal one of these
Price: Under $20
You're probably not going to go wrong getting your favorite science guy or gal one of these
Price: Under $20
2. An organic molecule model kit
If you're buying for a chemist, chance are they already have one of these.
But for any others, they probably sold/lost their kit from Chemistry 101 that they took 20+ years ago. Let them relive their memories with one of these model building sets. No one said you have to build real molecules!
Price: $25.88
But for any others, they probably sold/lost their kit from Chemistry 101 that they took 20+ years ago. Let them relive their memories with one of these model building sets. No one said you have to build real molecules!
Price: $25.88
3. Any book that helps them improve their data visualization skills
True scientists will tell you that some of the best papers they've read have some of the most impressive illustrations of data. Unfortunately, many times those same figures in Nature and Science are the product of dedicated medical illustrators that have an eye for graphic design. Books like Visualize This (left), Show me The Numbers, or anything by Edward Tufte will help them think about their data in the most appealing way possible.
Price: $22.76 for Visualize This, other prices are similar.
Price: $22.76 for Visualize This, other prices are similar.
4. The story of 17 molecules and how they changed the world
Scientists love to tell stories about how scientists change the world. Napoleon's Buttons will teach them how to tell the story of how 17 molecules - from cellulose, morphine, estrogen, nylon, and more - changed the world, for better or worse.
Price: $12.42
Price: $12.42
5. A water bottle filled with students' tears
What better motivation can a lowly adjunct professor give their students than having them know that their tears keep him or her stay hydrated?
At least grad students will know that their suffering at the keyboard or in the lab wasn't all in vain.
At least grad students will know that their suffering at the keyboard or in the lab wasn't all in vain.
Price: $13.95
6. A book of serious scientific explanations to ridiculous questions
From Randall Munroe, creator of xkcd (yes, the one and only), comes this book filled with answers to questions like "What's the farthest one human being has ever been from every other living person?", "What happens if you hit a baseball going at 90% of the speed of light?", and "How much does a mole of moles weigh?"
Find out in What if?
Price: $14.40
7. A periodic table of elements shower curtain
This item would probably only be appreciated by the nerdiest of nerds, but I was amazed to find out that this thing actually exists. Sadly, there was also a time that I thought stuff like this was cool.
Price: $23.99.
8. A picture book filled with photomicroscopy
Microcosmos, by Brandon Broll, is filled with over 200 pages that include images up to 22 million fold magnification. Eyelashes growing, spermatozoa, microscopic photos of computer chips, mosquito heads, and more will be appreciated by any inquisitive mind or for that matter anyone interested in the beauty of nature.
Price: $16.48
