A new IIT Bombay study has found that air pollution contributed to more than 80,000 premature deaths of adults in Mumbai and Delhi in 2015. That’s twice as many such deaths compared to 20 years earlier. The problem has reached frightening levels in our cities. According to UNICEF, some 220 million children in South Asia are exposed to pollution levels more than six times the standards set by the WHO.

The problem may be deadly, but it’s also one that we can fix. Many organizations have already joined hands across the globe to develop solutions. You too can do something about it! Send us an essay on how to reduce air pollution. Our panel of experts will pick three prizewinning entries.

Any student studying in classes 9 through 12 can send in an entry. Be creative and original! To give some examples, the essay could cover community action in a neighborhood or school, an awareness campaign to reduce harmful practices and promote good ones, or ideas to monitor air pollution.

Click here to find out how to participate, and for some winning tips. We are looking for essays that are realistic, constructive, and forward-looking. The length should be 500 to 800 words. The deadline is January 27, 2017.

So hone those writing skills, and get ready to pit yourself against the best brains in high schools around the country! And the best part is: whether you win a prize or not, your participation will help make the world a better place.