The Peter Peckard Memorial Prize 2020

The Peckard Prize is open for submissions despite the closure of the College.

Prize Background

The Prize, endowed by the generosity of two Magdalene Members, celebrates the achievements of Peter Peckard, Master of Magdalene in the 18th century. As Vice-Chancellor of the University in 1784, Peckard set essay subjects for undergraduate prizes. He chose the topic 'Is it ever right to make slaves of others against their will?'

Thomas Clarkson, a scholar of St John’s College, won the prize for an essay involving a careful review of the horrifying realities of slavery. Clarkson was so moved by what he discovered that he decided to dedicate his life to fighting for the abolition of slavery. It was Clarkson who later recruited William Wilberforce to lead the battle in Parliament. The Peckard Memorial Prize was created to mark these events.

Brief

An essay or equivalent (research paper, report, short film, podcast, blog post, or other media) on some egregious form of human exploitation in the world today and the actions needed to eliminate it.

• Competition open to University of Cambridge undergraduate students.
• Work produced for undergraduate degrees welcomed.
• Collective entries by a University or College Society welcomed.
• Entries must be between 6000-10,000 words (excluding the bibliography). Figures, tables, etc will count at 250 words per page.
• All debts to other scholars, including teachers, books, articles and websites, should be acknowledged.
• Submissions must be in English and submitted using the form below.
• In the case of a tie the judges will split the prize.

Prize

Prize: £1,000

Closing date: 10 July 2020

Winner announced: 22 July 2020

Prize-giving Ceremony

The winner will be invited with a guest and the Head of House/Senior Tutor of their College to a prize-giving ceremony on Thursday 22 October 2020 followed by dinner at Magdalene hosted by the Master, Senior Fellows and members of the prize-giving committee.