We Want You for Our Science Gift Guide

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Sure, a “science-themed gift” can be a little … geeky. And the assumption is that the latest gadget or doohickey is made by a guy — or “bro,” to use the parlance of Silicon Valley. But who says so?

This holiday season, The Story Exchange wants to hear from all you science-loving ladies out there who make products that are STEM -inspired. (STEM, of course, stands for science, technology, engineering and maths, fields in which women are chronically under-represented.)

Click HERE to submit your form.

What do we mean? Anything that incorporates a little bit of good old-fashioned scientific know-how, like a thermal-cooling device with infrared-detector components. Or anything with robotic parts and laser beams. But you don’t have to be a bioengineer or geophysicist to enter. You can be an artist, a craftsperson, even a baker. More than anything, we want to see that your product comes from a love of sciency-stuff. Do you make rocket-ship earrings? A TARDIS-themed dress? 3D-printed toys for kid inventors? A glow-in-the-dark iPhone cover? Pi cupcakes?

From now until Nov. 15, we want to hear about ONE product you sell (under $100) that would make a fabulous gift for a special person this upcoming holiday. It should be cool, quirky or functional — and inspired in some big or small way by the STEM fields. Tell us, in 250 words or less, the story behind the item; the type of person it’s suitable for; and why it deserves to be in our Science Gift Guide.

Our final picks will be recognized on this site starting Dec. 1 and shared with our media partners. (Please see our editor Colleen DeBaise discussing last year’s Gift Guide on MSNBC’s Your Business.)

Some criteria:

  • You cannot be a franchisee, independent distributor or sales representative.

  • You must have created, designed or originated the product yourself (it can’t be sourced from a supplier).

  • Your product must be STEM-inspired and priced under $100.

  • Your submission will become part of our 1,000 Stories project, an ongoing research project with Babson College. Information provided may be published.

  • You must submit a photo of the product. A team of judges at The Story Exchange may ask you to send a sample for review

Spread the word!
Tell your friends, colleagues and networks about the The Story Exchange’s Science-Inspired Gift Guide. Encourage others to submit applications by sharing via email, Twitter and Facebook.

Click HERE to submit your form.

Got a question? Contact us here.

 This post originally appeared at The Story Exchange.


About the Author

Candice Leigh Helfand, the Associate Director of Digital Media for The Story Exchange, is a news media professional with nearly a decade of writing and editing experience. Prior to The Story Exchange, she worked as a journalist and covered a wide range of topics for some of the largest news organizations in the country (including CBS Local News and The Star-Ledger). She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism & Media Studies at Rutgers University and graduated in 2005. In her spare time, Candice enjoys singing contemporary a cappella music and working as a volunteer content producer for the Women's A Cappella Association.