Professor Fanus Venter, the President-elect of BISMiS and PhD candidate Melandré van Lill represented the University of Pretoria and FABI at the Sixth Meeting of Bergey’s International Society for Microbial Systematics (BISMiS), held from 17-20 October in Qingdao, China, on the scenic Yellow Sea coast. Fanus also attended the meeting of the Bergey’s Manual Trust Board. Melandré was a recipient of the Student Travel Award sponsored by the Bergey’s Manual Trust to attend the meeting.

This year’s meeting, themed “Microsystems and Microbiomes: Integration and Innovation,” brought together more than 300 delegates from over 20 countries. Organised by Shandong University, the National Key Laboratory for Microbial Modification Technology, BISMiS, and the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the conference offered an inspiring platform for scientists dedicated to the systematics and taxonomy of microorganisms.

Prof. Fanus Venter delivered a talk titled “Closing the naming gap: advancing prokaryotic taxonomy with the SeqCode,” highlighting efforts to improve the formal naming of prokaryotes through genome-based approaches. Melandré took part in the Graduate Student Forum and spoke about her work in a talk titled “SeqCode facilitates naming of South African rhizobia left in limbo”.

The four-day event was filled with lively discussions, thought-provoking presentations, and opportunities to connect with researchers shaping the future of microbial taxonomy. It provided a valuable space to share ideas, explore new collaborations, and reflect on how genomic innovation continues to transform the field of systematics.