A CLIMATE change project that will see a giant ark built in Oxford city centre has been recognised for embodying Olympic dreams.

The Ark Project is an ambitious scheme aimed at getting children and young people passionate about environmental issues.

It will be launched with a children’s conference this month, when leading scientists and engineers will speak to an audience of 600 primary school children.

The climate change conference has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark by the Cultural Olympiad, in recognition of the way it inspires children much the same way as the Olympic ideals.

Karen Draisey, artistic director for CIAO!, the Children’s International Arts Organisation which is behind the project, said: “We are very proud to have achieved the London 2012 Inspire mark for the Children’s Climate Change Conference.

“It reflects on the extraordinary range of partners that the project is bringing together.”

Speakers at the conference, at the Sheldonian Theatre, in Broad Street, on Thursday, January 14, will talk about developments in science and technology and how they fit in with a sustainable future.

Up for discussion will be everything from future transport and eco-housing to the changing climate and what impact it will have.

Ark Project director Emma Howell added: “The conference showcases exciting and innovative aspects of science to inspire children about the potential opportunity and beauty a low carbon world offers.”

Following the conference, children from the 10 Oxfordshire schools involved – including five from Oxford – will be teamed up with a scientist to explore an aspect of environmental science.

Then arts organisations, which include Oxford Playhouse, Pegasus Theatre, and musician Nick Cope of the Candyskins, will help the school groups translate the research into an artistic creation, which could be artwork, theatre, music or other media.

Designs for a giant ark have been drawn up by set designer Nomi Everall and the structure will be created by Architecture Sans Frontières.

The plan is for the ark to be large enough to exhibit the children’s artwork, hold workshops and stage performances in, on and around.

It will be along the theme of ‘what would you take while sailing away to a low carbon future’.

Ideas will be developed with the children, but the ark could include a mural wall, wish trees where members of the public write their wishes for the future, and an aviary with workshops to make birds, kites, mobiles, lanterns or puppets from recycled materials.

Schools could create recycled animals and their habitats, which would be displayed in ‘nests’ for people to peer in at through portholes on the ark.

Details of where the ark will be set up in June 2010 are still being finalised but organisers have promised it will be in a prominent city centre location.

More information about the scheme is available from ciaofestival.org.uk