My path began in Siberia, where I lived for seven years until my family and I immigrated to California. I later meandered back and forth between the United States, Russia, the tropical savannas of northern Australia where I found many birds and a partner, and elsewhere around the world. I came to conservation biology because I believe in the intrinsic value of biodiversity, and I enjoy the logic of science. Conservation biology is a science applied to an ethic, and is both theoretical and practical, analytical and emotional. It is steeped in values, urgency, uncertainty, and controversy. In teaching conservation biology at Warren Wilson College, I aim to empower students to develop their own ethic about biodiversity, and to do science that does good in the world.