Indian Springs&8217; students would like to clear the air about something&8212;global warming.

The school&8217;s AP Environmental Studies class, led by teacher Lisa Balazs, is studying this widely debated topic as a part of the Challenge 20/20 program. Their class was selected from among 450 schools around the world to participate in the National Association of Independent School&8217;s program. Indian Springs is studying global warming in conjunction with the Lycee Polyvalent Joliot-Curie School in France and New Britain High School in Connecticut.

The program doesn&8217;t just teach students about the harmful effects of global warming, but they will implement their own study and find real solutions to the problem. Balazs said her students spent the first month of school identifying what global warming is and how humans contribute to the problem.

Now to implement the study, she said, &8220;We decided to focus pretty much on Indian Springs, since it&8217;s almost like a very small town we live in. We decided to focus on our behaviors and habits on campus.&8221;

Once their findings are in, at an Indian Springs Town Council meeting the students will present changes the community can make to prevent

global warming.

Balaza said she hopes their research will also expand to include the Birmingham and Shelby County areas as well.

Once they complete their research, Indian Springs and their two partner schools will combine their information and write a comprehensive report. Then,

in February of 2007, the schools will share their results with other Challenge 20/20 participants from around the world at the NAIS Institute for Student Leaders in Denver, Co.