Czarecah Tuppil Oropilla

Field of work

Czarecah Tuppil Oropilla (Eya) is an associate professor at the Department of Education, Religion and Social Studies at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. She conducts research and teaches in kindergarten pedagogy, pedagogical innovations, intergenerational meetings and co-creation between research, education and the field of practice.

Her research pays particular attention to social and ecological sustainability, child participation, intergenerational relationships, and exploratory pedagogical practices. She is also interested in how nature, water, the sea and ocean literacy can be included in kindergartens, kindergarten teacher education and education for sustainable futures.

Oropilla completed her PhD at HVL in 2023. The dissertation examined encounters and relationships between young children and older adults in kindergartens, families and communities. She uses qualitative, narrative, participatory and practice-oriented research methods.

She was co-leader of EX-PED-LAB – Exploration and Pedagogical Innovation Laboratory and established the research podcast PedPod by EX-PED-LAB. She is also co-editor of the open anthology Confronting the Polycrisis: Contributions from Early Childhood Education and Care to Sustainable Futures.

Project participation

• THRIWE – Teacher Health, Resilience and Intergenerational Well-being in ECEC: co-leader in work on co-creation, pedagogical innovations and workplace-based development
• BLUESEED: leads work related to Change Labs and contributes to the development of resources on sustainability, oceans and Ocean Literacy in kindergarten and higher education in collaboration with the University of Bologna and Atlantic Technological University Ireland
• FUTURE4CHILD – Nansen EDU: project coordinator at HVL in an education and research collaboration between Norway and Ukraine
• EX-PED-LAB and EX-PED-LAB Research Extension: former co-leader; development of methods and resources for exploration, co-creation and pedagogical innovations
• GenerationsLab and IGMUS: research and practice development related to generational meetings, museums and sustainable local communities
• One Ocean Explorations: contributes to research, knowledge development and dissemination related to ocean, water, Ocean Literacy, ecological perspectives and education for sustainable futures
• PULS – Pedagogical Leadership for Quality Development: project participant in an R&D collaboration between Eventus and BARNkunne. Contributes to research-based and co-creative workshops based on EX-PED-LAB methodology to strengthen educational leadership, professional learning and organizational development in three Eventus kindergartens.

Researching

• Educational innovations and co-creation
• Intergenerational meetings and intergenerational relations
• Social and ecological sustainability
• Nature, Water, Ocean and Ocean Literacy
• Children's participation, play and exploration
• Professional learning and practice-based research

Research groups

• • KINDknow Centre
  • Work Package on Families, Generations and Belonging
  • Kindergarten as an arena for education