It also reflects my changing worldview. I'm the first and to my knowledge the only full-time ethicist in geography. There weren't many points of connection to work from when I began research for my dissertation. Practical ethics, on the other hand, better reflects my broader commitment towards situated moral understanding, that is, a way of doing ethics that is sensitive to moral interpretation, and informed by the circumstances of distinct cases. Our moral values and commitments are always contestable, and how we play out those values and commitments will vary given the circumstances.
Practical ethics is an ethics for real people, living real lives.
I think this is why I find that the very language of 'practical ethics' resonates so strongly with people. It signals that I am not pushing a narrow and rigid set of values. I like to answer this question by beginning with my grandmother. She was an early feminist and socialist with an affinity for animals. We would watch and discuss the news on television, and it was through these discussions that I developed an explicit awareness of ethics in public policy.