Dr. Paul A. Lawson as been unanimously elected as the Editor-in-Chief of the Bulletin for the Bergey's International Society for Microbial Systematics (BISMiS). The Bergey's Manual Trust was established in 1936 to sustain the publication of Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology and is the premier recourse for microbial identification and classification; Dr. Lawson as contributed 16 chapters between 2009 and 2012.

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 serves internationally as an advocate for research efforts on microbial systematics and diversity.