Since January, the CIAO! Ark Project has been working with primary school children, scientists, artists and architects to create a positive vision of a low-carbon future that culminates in the installation of the CIAO! Ark, a large-scale public art installation that will be on the front lawn of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History until Sunday, June 27.

Children were given the opportunity to hear from leading scientists before undertaking hands on investigations in their classrooms and playgrounds.

Working with scientists who specialise in biodiversity, water usage, energy emissions and climate modelling, children learnt about the potential impacts of climate change, but more importantly, what we could all do to make a difference.

The project aimed to change the way the climate story was told; instead of focusing on the often frightening possibilities of climate impacts, it highlighted the opportunity changing our lifestyles could achieve. Children had the chance to look at the ‘journey of their lunchboxes’, exploring food miles, food waste and packaging.

Another class became energy detectives and successfully managed to reduce the energy emissions of their school and reduce the cost of powering their classrooms.

Pupils in Cowley and Banbury found all manner of beasts, bugs and biodiversity in their playground and created bug hotels, compost heaps and got planting to encourage more wildlife to move in.

Inspired initially by these scientific discoveries, the children worked with artists to share their experiences and show others what they had found out. Songs about the water cycle, story telling about energy, visual feasts, animated films and silk screens all show the children’s enthusiasm and knowledge about environmental issues.

But the project does not end there. The children are also challenging organisations and businesses to join them on the low carbon journey. The organisations that take on a challenge, from cutting their energy use to reducing their water consumption, are not only going to green up their workplaces but have their progress monitored by the children who have participated.

Arts Council England, the project’s main funder, was among the first to say yes to a challenge and will discover what they are taking on when they meet the children this month.

The CIAO! Ark Project has had children at its heart throughout: children will bear the brunt of climate impacts in the future and it is important that their voices are heard.

The legacy of the Ark Project will be that children can show us that we can all play a part in shaping the future and creating a cleaner, greener world.

For more information please go to www.ciaofestival.org.uk