The Feraki Fund was created in 2021 in honor of Fer Willemse, who has devoted his life to the systematics of Orthoptera with a special focus on Greece.
Τhe “Feraki Fund” is meant to assist and hopefully stimulate young, enthusiastic researchers with their studies on Orthoptera in Greece, the Balkans, Turkey and Cyprus by covering some of their research cost. The fund is administratively and financially hosted by the Hellenic Zoological Society. It supports research aimed first and foremost at the Orthoptera fauna of Greece, but funding proposals for research ta king place in the Balkans, Turkey or Cyprus will also be taken into account.
The Feraki Fund can be used as a scholarship or to cover travel expenses (fuel, car rental), subsistence expenses (accommodation and food), field and lab equipment and consumables for research. The total amount available for funding in 2026 is € 2000.
The Feraki Fund can also be used to partially cover expenses for congress participation (announcement or poster) for grasshopper-related work. The total amount available for funding in 2026 is € 750.
The new deadline for submission for is 31/1/2026 and results will be announced by 15/2/2026. Proposals are evaluated by the Board. For the period 2022-2027 the Board of Feraki Fund consists of
(a) Luc Willemse, Naturalis Biodiversity Center [President of FF],
(b) Axel Hochkirch, Professor, Trier, Germany, Chair of IUCN SSC GSG.,
(c) Vassiliki Kati, Professor, University of Ioannina, Greece.
You can find the general research application form here and the application form for a congress here. Please use the appropriate application form for whichever purpose you wish to apply for. More information about the Feraki Fund can be found here.
Good luck!
