Choosing gifts for the science lover in your life

Let’s face it, holiday shopping can be tough enough, but when you’re shopping for something you know nothing about, it can be even tougher.

If you’re shopping for science gifts for the Einstein in your life, don’t worry.  It’s not as painful as you think.  There are plenty of gifts for science lovers out there, and knowing which one to choose isn’t rocket science.

What are They Into?

There’s more than one kind of science out there.  When trying to figure out what kind of gifts science lovers would like, it helps to know what discipline of science they like.

Are they into Astronomy, the study of stars and planets?  If so, then a planetarium may be the perfect gift.  What about Paleontology or archeology?  Are they into dinousaurs?  Does finding lost things in the ground excite them?  If so, then a dig a dinosaur kit may be just what they need.  Not only is it a lot of fun, but it gives them the basic knowledge of doing an archeological dig.

Maybe you want to begin guiding them into a lucrative career.  I don’t think anyone would argue that one of the most important emerging sciences right now is alternative fuels.  If that’s the case, then what could possibly be better (or cooler) than a fuel cell kit, teaching your science lover the basics of making a fuel cell car?

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An All Around Science Lover?

A lot of science-minded people are like me.  They’re into everything.  It’s not one discipline, but science itself, that excites them.  The joy of learning something new, of creating, of discovering.  Lots of science types are like this.  Be it, Archeology, biology, geology, meteorology… It’s all exciting.  Electronics, space, nanotechnology..  We love them all.

This is the easiest kind of person to shop for, because if you get them anything science related, they’re going to love it!  It doesn’t really even matter what it is, as long as your gift gives them the opportunity to learn and explore.

Even though they would like just about anything though, I do have a suggestion for this kind of person.  There’s a book called “Flash! Bang! Pop! Fizz! Exciting Science for Curious Minds.”  I get giddy just thinking about it.  Even as a 42 year old man, this is exactly the kind of gift that a person like me would love, and I know my 8 and 11 year old daughters would feel the same way.

No matter what you choose, I can’t stress enough the importance of educational gifts.  These gifts are suitable for both kids and adults, but if there’s a child in your life who shows a love for or inclination toward science, please encourage them.  Giving them scientific gifts is a great way to do that.

Here in the U.S., we’re the most advanced nation on earth, and yet we’re importing scientists from around the world every day because there are too few being home grown in our own nation.  We should encourage our kids to pursue the sciences, teach them how wonderful and exciting it can be.