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Aware of how indispensable field work is, and of how much mentorship and financial backing matter in supporting personal enthusiasm, in 2009 Prof. Dr Ljupčo Melovski launched the one-of-a-kind Young Ecologists Programme to encourage and inspire young students to do research in ecology and the environment. To this day it remains the only programme that provides continuous support to young ecologists, contributing not only to their professional development but also to a deeper scientific understanding of several significant ecological questions in the country.

Inspired by Prof. Dr Melovski's dedication and inexhaustible curiosity, and in honour of his contribution to ecological science in the country, the Macedonian Ecological Society dedicated this programme to him — which is why it has carried his name since 2020.

Through the Young Ecologists Programme we provide mentorship and financial support in the form of small and intermediate grants. The small (one-year) grants are intended for young ecologists up to 26 years of age at the start of their scientific career, while the intermediate (two-year) grants are awarded to people up to 30 years of age with prior research experience who have already completed a project under a small grant. In this way the programme encourages continuity in professional development and the gradual build-up of young research capacity.

Candidates apply through a call we publish once a year. So far we have run the programme nine times and awarded 81 small and 19 intermediate grants, supporting a total of 100 research projects by 2026.