“Superpowers” and Student-Led Action Research

Today we sat down with Cher Hill and Neva Winters, authors of the article “I Hate the Global Warming Factory! Caring for Tadpoles During the Climate Emergency.” This article is also co-written with Ching-Chiu Lin who could not join us for the recording. The three authors are all researchers at Simon Fraser University. As part of the Eco-Justice and Climate Action mini-series, we explored the role of elementary school students in British Columbia as eco-action heroes and leaders of learning and research. Dive into the insights, perspectives, and surprises that students get into in a pond during a lunchtime program. Learn what children can teach us about love, courage, and climate action.

Joe and Blane introduce guests Cher and Neva to discuss the article that brought them together, leading into the origin story, sharing their collaboration with Elder Rick Bailey on the salmon crisis on Coast Salish territories [2:21]. The conversation then follows how an encounter with tadpoles amidst a heat wave and a shrinking pond led to the students springing action, forming an outdoor learning club, a community film festival, and a fundraiser [5:13]. From there, Cher and Neva reflect on teaching kinship with the more-than-human world, the pedagogy of "superpowers" of different species and tadpoles, social-emotional learning, and a shared orientation toward learning as an act of love, inspired by Elder Rick [14:41]. This opens into a candid discussion of the action research methodology: indeterminate PAR cycles, ethics and permissions challenges, and how community synergies continuously reshaped the project's direction [22:08]. The episode closes with future directions, including a new school pollinator garden, and a reminder of the magic that happens when students lead the learning and research [34:47].

Thank you Cher and Neva for sharing your work with us.

Thank you to our listeners for tuning in to this episode of the Action Research Podcast, created by Adam Stieglitz, Joe Levitan, Shikha Diwakar, Cory Legassic, and Vanessa Gold.

Produced by Shikha Diwakar and Vanja Lugonjic.

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How have you found yourself in the world of action research? Want to be interviewed or share one of your projects? Get in touch with us.

Biographies

Cher Hill is an Assistant Professor and teacher educator in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. She is deeply invested in researching educative experiences that contribute to more connected, thriving, and just communities. Cher is a passionate supporter of relational, participatory, outdoor, and community-based educative initiatives.

Neva Whintors is a doctoral student at Simon Fraser University, and an elementary school teacher with over 20 years of experience, having taught kindergarten through Grade 7. Her areas of expertise include outdoor pedagogies, social emotional learning, and action research.

Resources:

Learn more here: https://www.sfu.ca/research/research-impact/performance-excellence/scholarly-impact-of-the-week/scholarly-impact-stories/2026/the-ripple-effect_sfu-educators-schoolchildren-inspire-care-for-the-environment/

Artists to Check Out:

Ryan Hughs:

https://www.instagram.com/ryansalishart/

Brandon Gabriel:

https://www.instagram.com/brandongabrielart/

Photo Credit: https://www.natucate.com/en/blog/travel-guide/canada-british-columbia

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This episode is part of our Eco-justice and Climate Action Series. Authors from journal articles in a Special Issue of the Canadian Journal for Action Research hop behind the mic and share the inspirations, process, and findings from their projects. Join Joe Levitan, Shikha Diwakar and special guest host Blane Harvey, as they interview an inspiring group of researchers, educators, organizers, and more, navigating the process of action research.