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.