I am a science writer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have spent nearly all of my career writing for the New York Times, both as a staff writer and on contract. I also write books. The newest opus, The Body Has a Mind of Its Own, is described on my book pages.

For the past fifteen years, I have specialized in the brain sciences, although I'm prepared to write on any interesting topic that comes my way. I particularly like stories about the environment, earth sciences and all things biological.

As the recipient of a Templeton Journalism Fellowship, I spent several weeks in the summer of 2007 at Cambridge University in England, discussing science and religion. I recently wrote an article on the neurophysiology of spiritual experience. (see articles)

For pleasure, I am a cyclist, hiker, skiier and (if a knee injury heals up) runner. Recent adventures have taken me to Nepal (hiking to Annapurna Base Camp in a snowstorm), to Burma (moutain bike ride across the north) and down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon (the paddle boat is most fun.)

I grew up in Port Washington, New York, attended Northwestern University for two years and transferred to the University of California at Berkeley where I graduated in 1965 with a major in poltical science. I went into the Peace Corps in 1965, to Sarawak, Borneo, where I lived upriver and taught elementary school. Upon returning in 1967, I was hired at the United Nations bureau of the New York Times as a clerk.. and the rest is history.

I have two adult children, Matt Blakeslee (a fourth generation science writer and co-author of our wonderful new book) and Abi Blakeslee Kelleher (a clinical psychologist) both of whom live in Los Angeles. In Santa Fe, I live with my life partner, Carl Moore, a consultant who helps communities and non profits solve difficult problems.