Brown Bag Tuesdays, Cochise College's free lunch-hour educational series, continues January 30 with a presentation on the Douglas Campus about China.

The series features a different topic and presenter each week. Each presentation takes place from 12:10 to 1 p.m. in the Student Union and is open to the public. Brown Bag Tuesdays are sponsored by the Cochise College Center for Southwest Studies. The following sessions are scheduled this semester.

ˆ January 30 - "Around the World to China" with Charles and Claudia LaClair, who recently returned home from a journey that took them around the world. Their last and longest stop was in China. Hear about their adventures and impressions of this fascinating country.

ˆ February 6 - "Winter Birding in Cochise County" with Tom Wood. Avian winter visitors to our region are stalked by birdwatchers from around the country, making Cochise County one of the topStates. Sand hill cranes, hawks and other birds of prey, and other species make this a great time to learn about the birds of our region. Learn about these birds and where to find them from one of the leading experts on the birds of southeastern Arizona.

ˆ February 13 - "Venomous Reptiles of Cochise County" with Charles Rau. Most people react to snakes and other reptiles with fear and loathing. General misunderstanding, indiscriminate killing, and loss and destruction of their habitats have left many of our native reptile species with diminished ranges and in need of protection. Learn the truth about these fascinating creatures and how to learn to live with them from Charles Rau, a herpetologist expert who has participated in long-term studies of reptiles and rattlesnakes in our region.

ˆ February 20 - "Paquimé and Mata Ortiz" with Rebecca Orozco. Seven centuries ago, trade in this region was centered at an adobe city we call Paquimé or Casas Grandes. Learn about the site and the nearby town of Mata Ortiz, where local artists have recreated the striking ceramics reminiscent of centuries earlier.

ˆ February 27 - "Forensics" with Lisa Reed and Janeen Crockett. CSI and other TV shows that use science to solve crime have sparked an interest in forensics and the tests that use a wide range of disciplines to crack cases. Lisa Reed and Janeen Crockett, who teach related courses at Cochise College, will talk about the myths and realities of forensics and demonstrate some of the uses.

ˆ March 6 - "The Earthquake of 1887" with Gary Dillard. On May 3, 1887, a strong earthquake rattled northern Sonora and southeastern Arizona, causing widespread damage and a number of fatalities. Learn the history of the quake; how it affected local residents, spring flows and streams; and the rumors that swirl around the story from local historian Gary Dillard.

ˆ March 20 - "The Maya of Southern Mexico" with Perrie Barnes, who recently traveled through the Mayan areas of the Yucatan and surrounding states, visiting the sites of the ancient peoples and seeing the Maya as they live today. Learn about this fascinating culture's past and present.

ˆ March 27 - "Ghost Riders in the Sky" with Cindy Hayostek. This is a song that has become a legend and had its roots near Douglas. Learn the history of the song from local historian Cindy Hayostek.

ˆ April 3 - "The Oxford University Roundtable" with Rebecca Orozco. In mid-March, Rebecca Orozco will travel to England to present a paper on immigration issues affecting education. She traveled around the region and will talk about her journey and the time at Oxford.

ˆ April 10 - "The Swedish Enclave" with Wes Patience. Most people, even long-term residents of Cochise County, don't think of Swedes in Douglas, but between 1905 and 1930 there were dozens of Swedes living between 10th and 15th Avenues in Douglas, as well as a large number in Bisbee. Many came from the same region of Sweden. What brought them here, and what united them? Wes Patience has been researching these immigrants for a decade and spends 90 days a year in Sweden helping the extended families find their Douglas kin.

ˆ April 17 - "Military Outposts in the Chiricahua Mountains." During the long years of the Chiricahua Apache wars with the United States, the military established a number of outposts to block their escape routes into the rugged Chiricahua Mountains. Learn about the history of these camps, and then join us on a field trip to Camps Bonita and Rucker on Saturday, April 28. Call (520) 515-5446 for more information and to register for the trip.

ˆ April 24 - Dean's Day. Come hear about future plans, ask him questions and join in a friendly roundtable as we talk about our campus.

For more information, visit the Cochise College website at www.cochise.edu or contact the Center for Southwest Studies at (520) 417-4772.