Yesterday, students and faculty returned to classroom learning at the University of Washington. In that mix, you could find those of us (faculty, juniors, seniors and some graduate students) who were glad to be back — but freshmen and sophomores both are new to the campus after that 18 month COVID pivot to remote learning.

A standalone air cleaner had been installed my Johnson Hall basement classroom that holds 37 people. Students were glad to introduce themselves during class, and lively discussions ensued during a break that I gave them half way through the two hour class. Students were all properly masked, per the university’s mandate, which is based on the governor’s mandate.

I am always nervous before I teach that first class of the quarter, but this year even more so. I went straight to my classroom when I arrived on campus, and returned afterward directly to my car. Next week, I plan to be more adventurous. The numbers vaccinated, whether students, staff or faculty, are very high. Those whose requests for exemption from vaccination were approved must be tested weekly.

I was most impressed, almost overwhelmed, by the outgoing attitude of my students. After reviewing course assignments and expectations, I did an introductory lecture on “What is risk?”

For me, there is no adrenaline rush that matches showing students why risk identification and management is so critical, from testing physical event scenarios to measure magnitude and frequency; to worst case-ing cost in dollars or reputation with new product, service, or project proposal; to doing a risk review on historical events.

I loved it toward the end of class tonight when a student asked “what if it turns out a risk is not real?” The example he had in mind was the alleged existence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) that George W. Bush and Colin Powell were persuaded on by Cheney and Rumsfeld; which in turn became a rationale for going to war, while at the same time ruining Powell’s formidable reputation for integrity when he made the pitch based on misinformation to the United Nations General Assembly. We talked some last night, but will return to questions like this throughout the quarter.

You always get back more than you give.