From 18–23 August 2024, Nature Reviews Microbiology attended the 19th biennial meeting of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) in the beautiful city of Cape Town, South Africa. The meeting took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, just a short walk from the V&A Waterfront, offering a stunning view of the iconic Table Mountain.

A broad range of sessions were available, featuring leading experts in microbial ecology who presented research on various topics, including agricultural and native soil microbial communities, microbiome dynamics in animal, plant and human hosts, microbial symbiotic interactions, technological innovations for studying microbial ecology, microbial biogeochemical cycling, and microbial ecology in natural environments such as the marine and freshwater ecosystems, as well as in built environments. Several talks were also dedicated to the ecology and diversity of viral and fungal communities, as well as antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, other sessions explored the characteristics and ecological functions of microorganisms in extreme environments, such as the deep sea, anoxic settings, Antarctica and during drought, showcasing the vast diversity of microorganisms and their remarkable adaptation mechanisms on Earth.