Thames & Kosmos (T&K) was founded in 2001 with the mission of improving informal science education by publishing high-quality science and technology related educational products for children of all ages. T&K places an emphasis on teaching concepts and skills through hands-on modeling of real-world devices and processes, and by offering comprehensive, meaningful reading materials for a rich learning experience. T&K is headquartered in Portsmouth, R.I.

Partnership with Kosmos
Thames & Kosmos operates as the exclusive North American distributor for the science kit line of our partner company — the 180-year-old, German-based publishing house, Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH. Kosmos has an existing line of high-quality science kits that T&K translates, rewrites and distributes in the English language. T&K has also started to design its own new science kits in 2005.

Current Products
Thames & Kosmos currently offers 55 science kits in ten categories: Chemistry, Physics, Alternative Energy & Environmental Science, Technology & Electronics, Biology, Earth Science & Natural History, Fun & Fundamentals, Astronomy, Little Labs, and Sophisticated Science.

Recognition
Thames & Kosmos products are highly regarded in the specialty toy and education market. Since the beginning, T&K products have received dozens of awards from the most reputable organizations that review products for children.

Distribution
Thames & Kosmos sells its products worldwide in retail stores, toy and gift catalogs, specialty toy and hobby stores, museum stores, educational distributors, home-school suppliers, and online stores. For a list of retailers, see the Where to Buy page.

Leadership
Ted McGuire is the president of Thames & Kosmos. Ted graduated from Stanford University in 2000 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering/Product Design, and worked as a software designer for Adobe Systems until joining T&K in 2002. T&K was founded by Ted’s mother, the late Jane Holdsworth.