13 Best Gifts for Materials Scientists & Engineers (in 2024)

Last updated: November 29th, 2024

You're probably thinking "What the heck is Materials Science and Engineering?" I spent 9 years getting my degrees in MSE so I have a pretty good idea what my classmates and I loved to nerd out about. They tend to want things that are practical yet unique and a little nerdy...So I wanted to assemble what I think are the best gift ideas for a materials scientist or materials engineer (roughly the same thing). This collection will show them that you understand their love of materials and support them in their passions.

This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!

1. The Pocket Scientist - Wallet Multitool and Physics/Chemistry Reference

Materials scientists and engineers live and die by the periodic table. It's the most essential thing for them to learn in the first year. That's why it's front and center on The Pocket Scientist - a 3" pocket tool that doubles as a handy reference of chemistry, physics and engineering equations that materials majors will use constantly.

This makes a great stocking stuffer or last minute add-on at around $13, and is something an MSE major would use almost daily in their lab and homework. I keep mine in my wallet at all times!

You can get it here on Amazon. It's also available directly from our website here.

2. rOtring Mechanical Pencil and Stylus

Like I mentioned above, materials science involves a lot of note-taking, sketching of unit cell structures, and labeling of things in the lab. Some of the equipment we use also involves touch screens. That's why I personally usethis high-end rOtring mechanical pencil with a stylus end. It gives me super precise sketches but I can quickly flip it over and use the stylus on a tablet or touch screen equipment. Because it's made of metal and refillable, this is one gift that a materials engineer can use for decades.

Check the price on Amazon.

3. Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe

At its heart, materials science is all about the elements of the Periodic Table and how they behave in both pure forms and different mixtures. From one of my favorite science communicators Theodore Gray, Elements kicks off a 3-book series about the building blocks of our universe and the mechanisms that form everything.

The first book sets out to show elements in their most natural and pure form, and to make them feel more tangible than the concept of an atom. I love the amazing photography and the creativity involved in photographing elements which can sometimes be rare or elusive. It's a fun coffee table read for any MSE major or professional materials scientist.

4. New 100% Cotton Lab Coats designed for Scientists

5. Pocket Protector for Lab Coats

The main job of a materials scientist/engineer involves mixing chemicals, powders, or maintaining equipment that helps synthesize new materials. This involves lots of small, specific utensils and heavy labeling and note-taking.

In my materials lab, having a pocket protector was essential for keeping my markers, pens, favorite tweezers, spatulas, and top 2 or 3 hex wrenches at hand for whatever work came next. That's why I took my previous experience to designa new and improved pocket protector that perfectly fits our new lab coats and can hold 10-15 utensils at a time!

6. Ion: A Compound Building Game

From the same makers of the original "Covalence" board game, this 2nd edition of Ion has some gameplay improvements! We've had a ton of fun nerding out on this game in the office. It's a card-based deck-building game for 2-7 players and in our experience you should give it about 30 minutes per game.

Basically, you collect cards that match up and build compounds that are compatible based on their charges - similar to how a materials scientist would synthesize inorganic materials from basic raw materials. I recommend it as a perfect for a lunch break grad student office or as a fun way for materials engineers to get their kids interested in their same passions.

7. Desktop Periodic Table with Real Elements (color-changing)

The Periodic Table is the most revered part of materials science, ceramics engineering, and metallurgy fundamentals, and MSE students nearly worship its simplicity and usefulness. This desktop Periodic Table includes 83 real nuggets and vials of elements inside! I love this newer version because it includes color changing LEDs to give a cool science-y glow for those late night work sessions.

8. Real meteorite pendant necklace

This one is very cool. As a materials scientist, my favorite thing about astrophysics is the grain structure that develops in meteors as they slowly cool over millions of years in space. Astrophysicists often study these patterns to figure out how old certain rocks are, and where the came from.

This jewelry brand RTZN has a line of real meteorite pendant necklaces that are sharp but add a subtle nerdy touch that any astrophysicist would love to tell their friends about.