College campuses around the state participated in a national teach-in on global warming today.

At most schools, including the University of New England in Biddeford, the Maine College of Art in Portland and Colby College in Waterville, students arranged a series of lectures on the scientific, legal and social issues related to climate change. At the University of Southern Maine, for example, students attended 20 different sessions throughout the day ranging in subject from cars that run on solar power or vegetable oil to the impacts of climate change on other cultures.

The teach-ins were part of an effort called Focus the Nation. More than 1,500 institutions, mostly colleges and universities, in all 50 states were expected to participate with lectures, panel discussions and movie screenings.