Editor’s Note: Our deadline for submissions is now past. We’ll be rolling out our top picks, starting in early December.
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.