OBITUARY:

OBITUARY: Prof.Dr. Ahmet Ömer KOÇAK-Turkish Entomologist/Lepidopterist (1947-2020)

Prof.Dr. Ahmet Ömer KOÇAK was born on 1947 in Bayburt/Turkey. He has led a successful career throughout in life as a entomologist after his graduation from the University of Ankara Faculty od Science. He did his PhD in Zoology/Biology on the subject Lepidoptera at Ankara University. Then, he worked head of department as Assoc Prof Dr and Prof Dr at the Department of Biology in the Gazi University Faculty of Science between 1982 and 2000. He was promoted to professorship and worked as a professor at the Department of Biology of the Gazi University Faculty of Science (1986). Then, he worked as Prof.Dr. at the Department of Biology in the Yüzüncüyıl  University Faculty of Science (Van/Turkey) between 2000 and 2014. He served as head of the biology department (2004-2007) and also served as dean of  the Faculty of Science in Yüzüncüyıl University between the periods 2007-2010. Before his demise on November 18, 2020, he worked as Professor emeritus at the Faculty of Sciences Yüzüncüyıl  University of Van (2014-2019). 
Between 1966 and 2006, he worked in several countries in scientific missions for the entomological expedition. He was an author and co-author  795 scientific papers/publications between the periods 1975-2019.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Ömer Koçak, (Professor of Zoology, Dr. Sci.) founder and owner of the “Centre for Entomological Studies, Ankara (CESA)”, Editor of the international serials  Priamus, Priamus SupplementMiscellaneous Papers, Memoirs.Cesa NewsIconographia Insectorum (Series A-D).
Numerous expeditions have been organized and realized by the Cesa. The scientific materials (approx. 230,000 specimens) are preserved in the collections of Cesa (http://www.members.tripod.com/entcesa/Intent.pdf).  

Scientific Activities and Research Interest of Prof. Dr. A.Ö.KOÇAK
Ecology, fauna, distribution, zoogeography, check-list, taxonomy, nomenclature and morphology of Insecta (esp. Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Homoptera, Neuroptera) of the Old World (especially the countries in Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, South East Asia, Philippines, East Africa (Ethiopia) and South Africa. See also Palaearctic Region; Nearctic Region; Afrotropical Region; Neotropical Region; Orientalic Region; Australic Region

Scientific Responsibilities of Prof. Dr. A.Ö. KOÇAK:Editor of the Serials of CESA. Curator of the collections of CESA.

Private Expeditions in Turkey and Abroad of Prof.Dr. A.Ö.KOÇAK:
Numerous expeditions in Turkey between the years of 1966 and 2010.
In abroad:  Balkan states (Macedonia, Serbia, Bosna-Herzegowina, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria) between the years of 1978 and 1990; Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France between 1978 and 1979; Pakistan in 1987; Northern Cyprus in 1989; North Iran and Turkmenistan, Macedonia in 1994; Ethiopia in 1996 (two times); The Philippines in 1996, Kazachstan and Kyrgyzistan in 1999 and 2000; South Africa (Soutpansberg) in 2003 and 2004 (four times); Uighur A.R. (China); Thailand (Chiang Mai) in 2005 and 2006 (three times).