The Women in Tech Initiative at the University of California has developed a 2020 Women in Tech Holiday Gift Guide to boost and support the persistence of women in STEM. From youngsters to established leaders — there is something for everyone on your holiday list!
For the youngsters — gift a book or donate to your local school:
- Ada Twist, Scientist
- Rosie Revere, Engineer
- Sofia Valdez, Future Prez
- The Most Magnificent Thing
- More than a Princess
- You Matter
- Ada Lovelace
- The Magnificent Makers
Role models that inspire:
- Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code
- Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark
- Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain
- The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath
- The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague
- The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid
Toys to engineer and create for fun:
- Ruby Rails Skydive Action Figure Ages 4+
- GoldieBlox and the Dunk Tank Ages 4–9
- Osmo — Genius Starter Kit for iPad Ages 6–10
- Sphero SPRK Ages 8+
- KAmiGami LINA ROBOT Ages 8+
- littleBits Space Rover Inventor Kit Ages 8+
- LEGO Mindstorm Ages 10+
Gifts to build your own career and startup ideas:
- Hacker Cybersecurity Logic Game
- Raspberry Pi starter kits
- Wearable tech gadgets: Lilypad MP3
- Adafruit Gemma v2- Miniature Wearable
- Mindset and Milestones: A Girl’s Guide to Thinking Like an Entrepreneur
- Brave not Perfect
For tech leaders (present and future):
- Weapons of Math Destruction
- Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism
- Invisible Women
- The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table
- Dare to Lead
Gifts with a social good halo:
- Chocolate Fudge Brownies & Snickerdoodle Blondies by Greyston which developed open hiring, without interviews, resumes, background checks, or applications
- beelove® spa collection produced by men and women returning from incarceration
- Conscious Step Socks that help stop violence against women
- Salvaged hemp masks and for every purchase, United by Blue removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways
For when we can travel again and until then, quarantine comforts:
- 1Password for cybersecurity peace of mind
- Fast, touchless entry with a Clear Pass
- Bose Noise Cancelling Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 700, with Alexa Voice Control
- AeroGarden Black Harvest Indoor Hydroponic Garden
- Bright Endeavors Candles — 100% of proceeds support the young moms who create this candle
- Homesick Candles — since you can’t travel, your home can smell like you are there
Relaxing botanicals, cocktails, coffee:
- Mouth Cocktail Mixers (mixers, bitters, cherries, bourbon brown sugar…)
- Curious Elixers (delicious alcohol-free mocktails)
- Drnxmyth (fresh, refrigerated cocktails, ship to CA, AZ, NV, WA, OR, ID, NM)
- Generous Coffee invests 100 percent of its profits into charity organizations to help create jobs for women in the countries that make the company’s coffee
- ( c )3 Wine donates 100% of profits in support of nonprofits like SheLift
Gifts that last — 10 Democracy boosts to bring more women into governance. Donate, volunteer, run, and vote!
- Emily’s List
- Get Her Elected
- Higher Heights for America
- Ignite
- National Women’s Political Caucus
- RepresentWomen
- She Should Run
- Victory Institute
- VoteRunLead
- Women’s Campaign Fund
Happy Holidays and all the best for a better new year!
Download a pdf of the Women in Tech Gift Guide with embedded links.
All photos are courtesy of the linked sites selling the items, mostly Amazon.com.
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The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute drive interdisciplinary innovation for social good with faculty researchers and students from four University of California campuses – Berkeley, Davis, Merced, and Santa Cruz – along with public and private partners.
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