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11 Unique Graduation Gift Ideas for Scientists (in 2024)
Last updated: September 22nd, 2024
Scientists are tough to find gifts for. So we polled our group of scientists in several fields and stages of their careers to come up with the most practical and unique graduation gifts for scientists. This collection will show them that you understand their love of science and support them in their research and their passions.
This list ties together our favorite gifts for scientists 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 links in this page contain affiliate links, 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 pocket ruler and equation reference
Your favorite scientist will never forget this unique gift! They will carry this credit card-sized science and engineering ruler with them every day for a lifetime. We even laser-engraved the backside full of basic science equations and physical constants. See the product page for a full list of features we've packed in!
You can also add a custom logo to this for events, networking, or promotional giveaways! Custom orders start at 100 pieces - just email us for more info.
The Pocket Scientist at Genius Lab Gear
The Pocket Scientist from Amazon
How to use The Pocket Scientist – Full Feature Guide
P.S. We also have versions specifically for Chemists, Physicists and Engineers if those are a better fit for the person you have in mind!
2. The best laser pointer and PowerPoint presenter on the planet
I’ve gone through a lot of shoddy laser pointers and slide advancers in my life. They are either glitchy, not user-friendly or just not powerful enough to see well in a large presentation room. Eventually I got fed up and spent several hours reading reviews and parsing through specs of every laser pointer on Amazon. I landed on this green laser pointer with USB connectivity, plus volume controls and slide controls. It’s the highest-end version from and it’s worth every penny, yet still much cheaper than some other options like Logitech (and more highly rated). I’ve used it for over a year now and am extremely happy with it. Here are the perks:
- The green laser is the most powerful that can be legally sold in the USA (6-10x more powerful than the red version).
- The USB connectivity works with many different computers and software
- The volume controls help prevent embarrassing seconds of blasting video sound or scrambling to the PC to get the volume just right in those tricky embedded videos. It also has a play button for built-in videos.
- The slide controls go forward and back plus include a button to blank the screen like a TED talk professional to bring the focus back to the speaker.
- The USB rechargeable battery ensures you’ll never get caught out of juice.
- The little notebook clip is a nice touch for securing it on your portfolio or your pocket.
The lucky wielder of such a tool can be sure command the presentation room and reduces the risk of awkward technical difficulties. Get the best one and it will last you for many years.
3. New 100% Cotton Lab Coats designed for Scientists
Most scientists I know wear lab coats daily. And most of them hate their lab coats. That's why we spent 3 years designing and modifying a lab coat that scientists love! Released in 2024, the Louis and Curie lab coats are consistently reviewed as "the best lab coat I've ever had".
Scientists tend to love the tapered knit cuffs which are especially important for protecting wrists from chemicals and keeping clunky oversized cuffs from knocking over expensive glassware. We also made sure to use 100% cotton, which is both breathable and preferred in environments around heat or flames (like Bunsen burners). The two versions are tailored to fit male and female builds differently, with a wide size range and adjustable belt so scientists can finally feel great in their lab coat at work.
This is one to clue them in about beforehand so you can get the sizing right and make sure it meets their lab safety requirements! Or, you can grab a refundable $75 gift card to let them grab their own lab coat plus a pocket protector.
3. Lab Coat Pocket Protector for scientists working in laboratories
The venerable Pocket Protector became a cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way the newer generation of STEM researchers forgot about them. Scientists need these back in their labs to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their lab coats, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design.
Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.
4. Fun science-themed word magnets
Science-themed gifts are rarely as entertaining and enduring as our science-themed word magnet sets! We recently launched these to encourage creativity and self-expression in labs, classrooms and offices. Each specialty pack comes with 144 tiles carefully designed by a PhD in that field for technical accuracy and tacit absurdity.
So far, we have sets for Chemistry, Physics, Math, Biology, Engineering, Academia, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Ecology, PhD Balance (mental health in grad school) and Basic Science. Most people grab a 2, 3, or 4-pack that represents their unique experience in STEM.
Also now available on Amazon.
5. Science-themed enamel pin set for decorating lab coats
Science-themed enamel pins are a favorite of many of my fellow scientists for decorating their lab coats! Put that lapel collar to good use or use these as small gifts to lab mates and interns when they hit a major milestone. The DNA, microscope, beakers, and molecule pins here will especially be loved by science nerds as a way to add color and flair to their otherwise plain white lab coat.
Check on Amazon.
6. Elemental Dice Set - made with real elements!
If you know a science major who also plays board games, this is a premium, unique gift they will geek out over. These elemental dice sets are each either made with or contain the element of the Periodic Table shown on it!
I personally prefer the all-metal ones over the clear ones because the dice values are easier to see, but you can also collect them all!
There are 5 sets available on Amazon but 6 on their website, with different availability. It's worth checking their website first to buy directly if you can!
7. Science shapes cookie cutter set
This science-themed cookie cutter set is a whimsical gift for a scientist in your life who also loves to bake. It's made of food-grade stainless steel, so it'll last a long time! The set includes 4 science-themed chemistry designs: atom, beaker, test tube, and flask - essentials for an office or lab party to stay on-theme. One of my lab mates made science themed cookies to celebrate my thesis defense and they made for fun photos!
Check on Amazon.
8. Rocketbook cloud-connected reusable paper notebook
This is my favorite clever invention. It was inevitable. Rocketbook finally solved the problem of merging your hand-written notes into your favorite digital services. You simply use their app to take a photo of your pages of notes and the QR code and marked symbols on each page trigger the app to send the digitized page to any of the 9 pre-set digital destinations you choose. This includes OneNote, Evernote, Google Drive, Dropbox and even specific emails. Want a shortcut to send notes via email straight to your colleague or boss? This is what you’re looking for.
The Rocketbook Matrix is my personal favorite because it's designed for more technical work. It's got 30 pages of graphing paper and one regular lined page for taking notes, plus a built-in ruler on the inside cover. Did I mention they are resuable? Use their "Pilot Frixion" pens and then wipe the page with a damp cloth after uploading your notes to use it all over again (and win one for the environment!).
You can also get it fastest on Amazon.
9. Books to read for pleasure (not textbooks!)
Scientists often get stuck in a loop of always reading technical documents, textbooks and journal articles. It’s important to occasionally break that cycle and dive into a book for pleasure. Below are a few of our favorite science-related books that will be an enjoyable read for any scientist or engineer.
The Martian by Andy Weir
This is our all-time favorite book that any scientist or engineer will enjoy reading. For such a technical book, it’s got an incredible plot yet isn’t overly dramatized (except a little at the end). No other fiction book has captured this much popularity while running through exact calculations, estimations and scientific principles just to keep someone alive. You’ll be rooting for Mark Watney and inspired by the idea that your technical knowledge could one day save your life.
Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
This is by far my favorite author in the "productivity" space. Cal Newport has refreshing takes that get away from the "hustle" culture often promoted online by young guys trying to grind their way to success.
As a professor of Computer Engineering who deals with complex scientific theories and research himself, he knows what it takes to build a successful career in academia. And it's not cruising through 100 emails every morning!
His newest book "Slow Productivity" mixes his own experiences with stories of the greatest minds in human history (think Curie, Feynman) to show that great achievements often happen slowly. I enjoyed reading this one at about one chapter a week to remind myself to focus on the "slow, deep work" and fit everything else around it.
Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss
Think of this as a detailed picture book for adults or late teenagers. It’s a beautiful yet heartbreaking work of art telling the story of both Marie and Pierre Curie, from their research to their romance and ultimately their deaths. It’s relevant, entertaining and inspiring in an entirely unconventional way. A great read for a professional or a budding young scientist, especially one who will be inspired by the gender-based challenges that Marie Curie overcame to become one of the greatest scientists of all time.
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)
This might be the best-selling book about a scientist of all time. Really, anything Richard Feynman writes will make a thoughtful gift for your student in a science major. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! is filled with funny, clever, and surprisingly inspiring stories about the late, great educator and science communicator. It is made up of a series of anecdotes and stories and spans Richard Feynman's life from his youth through the late 1970s.
I've never had a book make me laugh out loud so many times. It's an insight into how his brain works and the absurd lens with which he sees the world.
The Craft of Research
The Craft of Research is now a classic book for any scientist trying to conduct factual, unbiased research and report about it in the scientific literature. For scientific researchers who must piece together a host of clues from many different research groups to generate new theories, doing this correctly is critical.
This is the 5th edition - and you know a book doesn't get 5 editions unless it's successful and useful in the first 4. Updated to include things like AI tools and to address emerging ethical issues, it's becoming more important than ever to conduct research in a way that you don't fool others...or yourself. This book will guide any scientist in doing things the right way!
More books for Graduate Students:
If the person you have in mind is also a graduate student, take a look at our new list of The Best Books to Make You a Better Grad Student.
10. rOtring or Staedtler Mechanical Pencil
Mechanical pencils are an essential daily tool for scientists at any level. But in the new digital age, scientists often find themselves using touchscreens as well.
That’s why my new favorite is the rOtring 800 Retractable Mechanical Pencil, (0.5 mm). This one turns from a pencil to a stylus on the fly, and also ensures the tip isn’t poking holes in your pocket all day like most other models. This is truly the top-end mechanical pencil and will make a special gift.
Staedtler is another brand much-loved by engineers. This model is cheaper and will last a long time, but just isn’t convertible to a stylus. You can’t go wrong with either one.
11. A thoughtful STEM gift bundle for scientists
If you can't decide by now, I can still help! Consider this decision made. I put together several STEM-themed gift bundles just to make it easy for you. The gift bundles include a STEM Pocket tool and STEM Word Magnets from above, plus a few fun science stickers. You'll save over 20% by bundling them together, so consider this decision made!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is a good graduation gift for a scientist?
Anything that's practical and functional, really! Here are our favorites:
- The Pocket Scientist Pocket Ruler and Equation Reference
- The Best Laser Pointer and Powerpoint Presenter on the planet
- New 100% Cotton Lab Coats designed for Scientists
- Pocket Protector for lab coats
- Science-themed Stickers for Laptops, Thermoses or Notebooks
- Fun Science-themed Word Magnets
- Science-themed enamel pin set for decorating lab coats
- Science shapes cookie cutter set
- Elemental Dice Set - Made with Real Elements!
- Chemical-resistant and Solvent-proof pens for Lab Notebooks
- Rocketbook cloud-connected Reusable Paper Notebook
- Books to Read for Pleasure (not textbooks): The Martian By and Weir, Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment without Burnout, The Craft of Research, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character), Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss
- rOtring or Staedtler Mechanical Pencil
- STEM Gift Bundle for Scientists
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