Climate Changers: Kids thinking big about sustainability 

August 3, 2011

Climate change is daunting. We have mostly agreed that it’s happening. But it’s big and what can we do about it anyway? What about cyclone-powered electricity grids? Or lightning-run barbeques? Or dog saliva showers? These are some of the ingenious ideas Year 5 children from Milton State School in Brisbane suggested when we asked them to come up with creative solutions to climate change. With science educator Paul Brandon and artsworker Juliette Kalifa, I produced the Climate Changers workshops to teach kids about climate change and help them create artworks exploring possible solutions.

The kids made art in response to three questions: How do you feel about climate change? Can you invent a machine to fix climate change? What are some new ways of generating environmentally friendly energy? The children were encouraged to think big, everything was possible and there was no such thing as a silly idea.

The artworks – which are delightfully creative and funny, but also insightful – will be exhibited at the Queensland Museum South Bank from 20 August to 11 September 2011 as part of National Science Week. I filmed the workshops to make a short documentary about the process, which will screen at the exhibition and be available online. If you can't make it to the exhibition or would like a sneak peek at some of the children’s great ideas, just check out the short film below. You’ll never think about dog saliva in the same way again!

Produced by Jaina Kalifa with the support of Queensland Museum South Bank, TippingPoint Australia, Milton State School and Hands on Art