60 Hours for 60 Years: A global writing marathon celebrates Clare Hall’s 60th Anniversary
For 60 hours, across time zones, disciplines, and continents, the Clare Hall community came together in a remarkable shared act of scholarship.
This Giving Week, from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April, 60 Hours for 60 Years, an academic writing marathon organised by the College’s Postdoctoral Researcher team, transformed Clare Hall into a vibrant, round-the-clock hub of ideas. Created to celebrate the College’s 60th Anniversary, the event brought together more than 100 participants from around the world, including the UK, the USA, Pakistan, Mexico, Macau, Denmark, and Japan.
In four-hour shifts, day and night, students, fellows, life members, and guests wrote side by side, both in College and online. Early mornings blended into late nights; quiet concentration gave way to moments of shared encouragement. Across continents, screens flickered to life as participants joined in, united by a common purpose.
Designed and led by Dr Valeria Ramirez, this unprecedented academic writing marathon represents a strikingly original format – one that reimagines how scholarly work, community, and fundraising might meaningfully intersect. By creating a shared temporal structure for writing across time zones, and with nearly 30 researchers passing the chair role to sustain the flow of sessions, the initiative offers both protected space for intellectual labour and a renewed sense of collective endeavour. It enables researchers not only to advance their work, but to do so alongside others, fostering moments of connection, accountability, and informal exchange. In doing so, the ‘collective’ marathon gestures towards a more sustainable and collegial model of academic life and research culture, where writing is no longer an isolated task, but a shared and visible practice.
What unfolded over those 60 hours was more than a writing retreat. It was a powerful reminder of the often unseen labour that sustains academic life, the persistence, discipline, and creativity required to transform ideas into knowledge.
Dr Valeria Ramirez, Affiliated Postdoctoral Members Liaison and Associate
The work produced during the marathon was as wide-ranging as the community itself. Participants explored topics from climate change and artificial intelligence to reflections on the fall of the Mayan Empire. Drafts took shape, arguments were refined, and new projects were imagined, from master’s dissertations and journal articles to proposals for future centres of excellence. Every paragraph written, every line of code developed, was a testament to commitment and intellectual curiosity.
Known for its international Visiting Scholars Programme, Clare Hall brings together a global community of Life Members, many of whom have developed or begun their most groundbreaking scholarship during their time at the College. The virtual format offered a rare opportunity for many to reconnect, with alumni from different generations coming together once again and, in many cases, continuing long-standing collaborations.
The impact of the marathon extended beyond the written word. It created a sense of momentum, of shared energy, of being part of something larger than one’s own work. It connected individuals across disciplines and borders, demonstrating what a truly global academic community can achieve together.
The event was also a tremendous success in support of Clare Hall’s future, raising over £76,000 for the 60th Anniversary Campaign Fund.
As the final sessions drew to a close, participants and supporters came together on Wednesday evening for a celebratory drinks reception marking the end of the marathon. Dr Valeria Ramirez and Professor Alan Short, President of Clare Hall, personally thanked everyone who had taken part, helped behind the scenes, and given so generously in support of the College.
It was a fitting close to an extraordinary 60 hours, one that celebrated not only what had been written, but also the spirit of generosity, collegiality, and shared purpose that made the event possible.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated, supported, and championed this initiative. Your presence, energy, and commitment made these 60 hours unforgettable.
‘This is what a scholarly community can be.
This is what Clare Hall is.’
Dr Valeria Ramirez
Further links
🧑🏫 Explore the playlist of research showcases prepared by some of our marathon participants.
🎁 There is still time to support the College this Giving Week! More information here.