YOUNG ECOLOGISTS SUPPORT PROGRAM „d-r Ljupčo Melovski“
The small grants program “d-r Ljupčo Melovski” issues an annual public call for grants for young ecologists. Grantees conduct one or two year projects with a strong research component aiming at (i) developing national ecological research and/or conservation capacities, (ii) raising public ecological (and environmental) awareness and (iii) making scientific ecological contributions, nationally.
So far, the Macedonian Ecological Society has conducted the program five times. In 2009 and 2010, we supported 15 students and enthusiasts, many of whom are currently working on research and conservation in local organisations (MES included), universities and even abroad. It was thus clear that the program’s aims were being met, but it was nevertheless, difficult to maintain it financially. Fortunately, and to our great pleasure, we were able to revive it a decade later (2020) with financial help from the Sigrid Rausing Trust. It now carries the name of one of the most prominent late Macedonian ecologists Prof. Ljupčo Melovski, PhD., a long-time president of MES and the initiator of this program in 2009.
Concluding with 2022, a total of 40 small grants and six intermediate grants have been awarded. We are excited to finalize the first intermediate grants by the end of 2022 and read about their results in their submitted research papers!
Contact: Dragan Arsovski arsovski@mes.org.mk