The USF (COPH) has a new accomplishment to brag about: a Telly Award, an annual鈥痵howcase of the best work created across all video streaming platforms.
The Activist Lab's Telly Award (Photo courtesy of Dr. Karen Liller)
According to the , they receive more than鈥13,000 entries鈥痝lobally鈥痜rom鈥痵ix continents鈥痑nd鈥痑ll 50 states. Winners鈥痳epresent鈥痺ork from advertising鈥痑gencies, television stations, production鈥痗ompanies鈥痑nd publishers from around the world.
The recent Silver Award in the general student category for the Activist Lab comes courtesy of their short film, 鈥淯nder the Florida Sun,鈥濃痺hich examined the rising dangers of the climate crisis in Florida,鈥痯articularly鈥痜or鈥痮utdoor laborers.鈥
鈥淭he documentary began after we were brainstorming ideas for a funding application. We had already done podcasts, webinars and built educational curricula around heat and climate change, so we were looking for something new,鈥 said , director of the Activist Lab.
The Activist Lab is no stranger鈥痶o鈥痟andling topics of environmental health and climate change.
鈥淐limate change is a public health issue. If you look at the health and quality of life effects, it clearly falls into the public health lane.鈥疘t directly affects human well-being and survival,鈥濃痵aid Liller鈥痺hen asked about the connection between these topics.
The Activist Lab鈥檚 Student Advisory Board (Photo courtesy of the Activist Lab)
The issue of occupational health in relation to farm workers is also particularly relevant in Florida, where鈥痶he USDA estimates over 28,000 people work as agricultural laborers.
鈥淚 hope the audience learns about the dangers of heat and climate. They need to be aware of these issues and we invite them to work with us to support farmworkers and outdoor workers. Ideally, work and health policies are implemented that protect these populations at all times,鈥 Liller said.
When asked about the significance of video as a format for sharing public health information, Liller emphasized the importance of social media.
鈥淭he way to reach people today has been鈥痩argely enhanced鈥痶hrough the use of鈥痵ocial media.鈥疶he video, I believe, is very well done and engaging,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 cannot overstate how important social media is for public health in getting across our messages, stories and advocacy pursuits.鈥濃
The process of creating the video involved鈥痑 long period鈥痮f literature reviews, interviews with experts and meetings with coalitions in the Tampa area. Liller鈥痯artially lends their success to the Activist Lab鈥檚 various connections to community members who would eventually be highlighted as speakers. Despite facing hurricanes, drone issues and scheduling conflicts, the team is proud of their work and particularly proud to have it recognized.
The lab also received a helping hand in the form of COPH videographer Oddi Diaz, who helped with filming and editing the project.
鈥淭he documentary was truly a collaborative effort among all of us,鈥 Liller said.
鈥淭here were鈥痙efinitely several鈥痬oments that left鈥痑 lasting impression鈥痮n us throughout the preparation of "Under the Florida Sun," said Manisha鈥疜atwal, a BSPH alumna and research assistant for the Activist Lab.
As part of the project, the Activist Lab students interviewed farmworkers from a range of backgrounds and were moved by each participant's willingness to share their experience and鈥痚xpertise.
鈥淗earing directly from farmworkers about the challenges they face and their determination to fight for change was equally moving,鈥 Katawal said. 鈥淭he dedication and concern shown by everyone involved made us realize even more how important this topic is and that impression has stayed with us--pushing us to keep working and advocating on it.鈥
In addition to the Telly Award recognition, 鈥淯nder the Florida Sun鈥 was nominated for a 30th Annual Webby Award in the video and film/public service and activism/media and entertainment category. The documentary was recognized among the top 11% of more than 13,000 entries submitted from around the world.
Liller hopes to continue finding new ways to bring the Activist Lab鈥檚 advocacy work to new audiences. To those interested in what the Activist Lab does, she says: 鈥淛oin us!鈥疊ring your skills and鈥痩et鈥檚鈥痵ee what we can create together. None of us in the lab had鈥痝reat experience鈥痠n filmmaking but working with the right experts, such as Oddi Diaz, it is鈥痑mazing what we all can do.鈥
Of the Lab鈥檚 future endeavors, Liller said she may see another film in the group鈥檚 future. As of right now, the Activist Lab plans鈥痮n holding鈥痶heir annual bootcamp on the topic of immigrant health in鈥疛anuary.鈥
"Keep listening to our , come to our events, work with us on our research and educational outreach and get involved!鈥 Liller said.
Read more about the Activist Lab鈥檚 鈥淯nder the Florida Sun鈥:
COPH community shows out at 2026 USF Health Student Awards Ceremony