The purpose of the society is to promote excellent research in microbial systematics as well as enhance global communication among taxonomists who study the Bacteria and Archaea. The society will also serve internationally as an advocate for research efforts on microbial systematics and diversity.

The Trust recognizes that the vast diversity of microbial life is the last remaining major reservoir of unknown biological diversity on Earth. A principal goal of the society is to comprehend this vast but largely unstudied diversity with its untapped genetic, enzymic and industrial potential. A basic aim of the society is to foster efforts to isolate novel microorganisms in pure culture and to describe, name and classify them.

Bergey's Manual Trust began considering the idea of an international society to support microbial systematics in 2006-2007. Through the Bergey's Manual Trust web site and Newsletter an online survey was conducted to determine if there was sufficient interest among the community of microbiologists who study the Bacteria and Archaea to form a Society. The results of the survey coupled with a discussion held at the 2008 International Union of Microbiological Societies meeting in Istanbul were highly supportive of the concept. Based on this, the Trust voted to sponsor BISMiS at its annual meeting in 2009.

Bergey's Manual Trust, which is an international Trust of microbial systematists, is an ideal organization to sponsor an international society because it is a non-profit trust [a USA 501(c)3 tax entity] that is devoted to serving the needs of the global community of microbial taxonomists interested in Bacteria and Archaea.

The current Executive Board comprises of:

• President: Wen-Jun Li, Sun Yat-Sen University, China [liwenjun3@mail.sysu.edu.cn]
• President-elect: Stephanus Venter, University of Pretoria, South Africa [fanus.venter@up.ac.za]
• Secretary: Wee Fei Aaron Teo, University of Malaya, Malaysia [teoweefeiaaron.bismis@gmail.com]
• Treasurer: William Whitman, University of Georgia, USA [whitman@uga.edu]
• Chair of Bergey’s Manual Trust: Martha Trujillo, [mett@usal.es]
• Member at-large: Lorena Carro, University of Salamanca, Spain [lcg@usal.es]
• Member at-large: Elena Ivanova, RMIT University, Australia [elena.ivanova@rmit.edu.au]
• Member at-large: Iftikhar Ahmed, National Culture Collection of Pakistan [iftikhar.ahmed@parc.gov.pk]
• Service Member: Kamlesh Jangid, Agharkar Research Institute, India [jangidk@aripune.org]

Our Past Presidents:

• James Staley, 2009 - May 2011
• Michael Goodfellow (resigned in favor of Fred Rainey), May 2011
• Fred Rainey, Jun 2011 - Apr 2014
• Brian Austin, May 2014 - Sep 2016
• Martha Trujillo, Oct 2016 - Apr 2018
• Iain Sutcliffe, May 2018 - Jul 2020
• Kamlesh Jangid, Aug 2020 - Nov 2023

The Society would be pleased to accept donations in support of its activities. Any such donations would be tax-deductible for US taxpayers as BISMiS is part of a non-profit trust [USA 501(c)3 tax entity].

The meetings of BISMiS are held every two years and started in 2011 with its inagural meeting in Beijing, China, on 19-23 May 2011. See the BISMiS Meetings page for more details.

Members have access to The Microbial Taxonomist, the newsletter of Bergey's Manual Trust, and a new publication, The Bulletin of BISMiS. The Bulletin is sent to members immediately upon publication. It is then released for open access 6 months following publication. The Bulletin of BISMiS. focuses on invited opinion articles, review articles, educational articles on methodologies, and invited autobiographies and biographies. Original research articles will not be published.

The original constitution was approved on 18 March 2011, by a vote of the membership of 77% in favor, 0% against, and 23% not voting. Very recently, the membership adopted amendments to the constitution of BISMiS and its new Bylaws with a 100% in favor vote. The latest constitution and bylawys are effective from May 1st, 2023 and available online here and here, respectively.

One goal of the Society is to provide appropriate recognition to those who have made significant contributions to microbial systematics. The major reason for this is to acknowledge the importance of the recipient's contributions and to aid in their careers. In addition, this group of well-known systematists can serve as a powerful international voice in promoting the field of microbial systematics.