MICROBIOLOGY SOCIETY

Microbiology Society ICSP Full Member Delegate Role
Description

Background:
The International Committee on the Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) is a Committee of the
Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology Division of the International Union of Microbiological
Societies (IUMS). It is the body that oversees the nomenclature of Archaea and Bacteria,
determines the rules by which prokaryotes are named, maintains the International Code of
Nomenclature of Prokaryotes and supervises the publishing of the International Journal of
Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM) which the Microbiology Society publishes
on its behalf.

As a member of the IUMS with more than 1000 members, the Microbiology Society
delegates up to three Full Members of the ICSP.

Time commitment:
In total, the time commitment is approximately 1-2 days per year.

The ICSP usually meets no more than twice a year.

Terms of office:
Members serve for three years. Terms start and finish in April on a rolling 3-year cycle from
2026.

Process:
The ICSP Member Delegate is appointed by the Board of Trustees in consultation with the
Advisory Council.

Eligibility:
Full, Full Concessionary, Postgraduate Student or Honorary Members are eligible to apply to
serve as the ICSP Full Member. Applicants should have a general interest in prokaryotic
systematics and how the field impacts on other microbiological disciplines such as ecology,
clinical and industrial microbiology.

Remuneration:
The role is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although reasonable expenses for
travel may be claimed.

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The Society is committed to creating an inclusive culture, which requires a governance
structure that fully reflects both its membership and the global microbiology community.
We welcome

nominations from across the full breadth of the membership and are particularly keen to
receive nominations from members from historically marginalised backgrounds. We look
forward to hearing from you.

1.  What does the ICSP Member Delegate do?

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Prepare for and attend online plenary meetings of ICSP (typically yearly or twice
yearly).

Participate in discussions of, and voting on, proposals to amend the International Code
of Nomenclature for Prokaryotes and other ICSP matters.

Promoting, where possible, the discipline of microbial systematics and its relevance to
different microbiological disciplines.

2.  ICSP Member Delegate attributes

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An active member of the Microbiology Society

Knowledge and understanding of systematics and nomenclature of prokaryotes and
how the field impacts on other microbiological disciplines

Ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy

Confidence to actively participate in ICSP meetings

A willingness and ability to devote the necessary time commit

Further information is available in the ICSP Statutes, notably Article 3, available at
https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.003117

Please note an updated 2025 version of the ICSP Statutes is currently in production.

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