News
Tuesday, 02 February 2010
The CIAO! Children’s Climate Change Conference
Despite severe weather conditions, the CIAO! Children’s Climate Change Conference went ahead as planned and marked the official launch of the CIAO! Ark Project. Eight of the ten primary schools involved in the project valiantly made their way to Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre, some on foot and on buses that had not been running the previous day when many of Oxford’s streets were barely passable owing to blizzards! The scientists speaking at the event arrived in their wellies and, against all odds, nearly 400 school children listened to some of Oxford’s leading environmental scientists and engineers presented their visions for a low carbon future and explained the science of climate change.
Remote controlled cars powered by hydrogen whizzed around this historic building; children watched the effect of greenhouse gases being demonstrated with infra-red cameras and the audience learnt why even the smallest of insects enable us to eat vanilla and chocolate ice cream! Science came alive and the message was clear: we all have a part to play in this enormous challenge and the Ark adventure has only just begun...
Amazed to discover some of the latest technologies being developed to combat climate change, one child of Woodstock C of E Primary School commented:
“I thought that the various talks were very interesting and I learnt a lot of things about climate change and how I can do my bit to save the environment. I had no idea that you could do so much to your house to make it eco friendly.” Rachel, Year 6
Scientists will now go into the ten primary schools to hold workshops exploring all facets of low carbon living. Children will then work with professional artists to express what they have learned creatively through theatre, dance, music, creative writing, crafts, storytelling, film and photography. These final artworks will be performed and exhibited on the Ark when it is installed from 23-27 June 2010. The Ark itself is being designed by Architecture san Frontières and theatre designer Nomi Everall, and will be made from reclaimed materials from a 20-mile radius of Oxford. It will be an object of beauty, with lighting and sound from clean, green power. The Ark will be placed in 'the Sea of Troubles' - a visual representation of what the children choose to leave behind, from asthma inhalers to values and behaviours that they feel have contributed to environments problems. For full details on the CIAO! Ark Project visit the website.
