Sharon Begley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharon Begley
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Sharon Begley speaking at The Amaz!ng Meeting in 2008
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| Born | June 14, 1956 |
| Died | January 16, 2021 (aged 64) Boston, Massachusetts, US
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| Education | BA in combined sciences |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Columnist, journalist, author |
| Employer | The Boston Globe |
| Known for | Writing about science, technology, and medicine |
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Notable work
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Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves (2007) |
| Spouse(s) | Ned Groth |
| Children | Sarah Begley, Dan Begley-Groth |
Sharon Begley (born June 14, 1956 – died January 16, 2021) was an American journalist. She was a top science writer for Stat, a news site from The Boston Globe. Stat writes about exciting discoveries in life sciences.
While at Yale University, she wrote for the Yale Scientific Magazine. Sharon wrote many articles and columns for big newspapers and magazines. Her topics covered all sorts of science. She was also an author and gave talks to groups. She often discussed how our brains can change and grow. Sharon also talked about science journalism and education. She appeared on TV and radio to share her ideas.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sharon Lynn Begley was born on June 14, 1956. Her hometown was Englewood, New Jersey. Her parents were Shirley and John J. Begley Jr. Her dad worked as a stockbroker. Her mom was a homemaker.
Sharon grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey. She was the best student in her high school class. In 1977, she graduated from Yale University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her studies focused on different science subjects.
A Career in Science Journalism
Sharon Begley started her journalism career early. She wrote for the Yale Scientific Magazine while in college. After graduating in 1977, she joined Newsweek magazine. By 1984, she won an award for her science reporting. This was for her Newsweek article "How the Brain Works."
Her time at Newsweek made her a well-known science writer. She won awards for explaining science clearly. For example, her article "Science Finds God" received praise. Another article, "The Mystery of Schizophrenia," also won honors. People loved how easy her articles were to understand. She helped many people learn about science.
In 2002, Sharon left Newsweek after 25 years. She then joined The Wall Street Journal. There, she wrote a weekly science column. Just three months later, she won another award. This was for her column "So Much for Destiny." It talked about how thoughts can affect our genes. She continued to win awards for her science reporting. She even received an honorary doctorate degree.
Sharon returned to Newsweek in 2007. She continued writing her award-winning science column. Later, Newsweek teamed up with The Daily Beast. Her articles often appeared on that website too. From 2012 to 2015, she worked at Reuters. She was a senior editor for health and science.
In 2015, Sharon joined Stat. This was a new science publication from The Boston Globe. She was part of the first team of writers there.
Books About the Brain
Sharon Begley wrote several books about the brain. In 2002, she co-wrote The Mind and the Brain. This book was with Jeffrey M. Schwartz. They explained Schwartz's research on OCD. The book talked about how the brain can change. This idea is called neuroplasticity.
In 2007, she published Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain. This book had a special introduction by the 14th Dalai Lama. It also had a preface by Daniel Goleman. The book starts with scientists visiting McLeod Ganj in India. This is where the Dalai Lama lives in exile. The book then explores how different therapies can change brain pathways. It also connects this science to Buddhism and meditation.
In 2012, Sharon co-authored another book. It was called The Emotional Life of Your Brain. She wrote it with Richard Davidson. This book suggests that everyone has a unique "Emotional Style." Davidson used six traits to describe this style. These included how well you bounce back from problems and how you see the future.
Awards and Recognition
Sharon Begley received many awards for her journalism. These awards recognized her clear writing and her ability to make science understandable.
- 1984: Page One Award for Science Reporting in Magazines.
- 1992: Outstanding Achievement in Media.
- 1997: Clarion Award for Magazine Article.
- 1998: Wilbur Award for Magazines.
- 2002: Front Page Award for Best Column/Editorial.
- 2002: NAMI Outstanding Media Award.
- 2004: Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. This was for helping the public understand science.
- 2005: Public Understanding of Science Award. This was a lifetime achievement award.
- 2007: Global Media Award of Excellence for Best Environmental Reporting.
- 2009: Excellence in Statistical Reporting Award.
- 2009: Genesis Award for Outstanding Written Word.
Personal Life
Sharon Begley married Edward Groth in 1983. They had a daughter named Sarah and a son named Dan. Her husband was a scientist. Sharon passed away on January 16, 2021. She died from lung cancer.
