On 29 September 1999, at a special meeting held during the 8th International Conference on Applied Algology, the International Society for Applied Phycology (ISAP) was founded. An Executive Committee elected two officers: Prof. Johan U. Grobbelaar (Bloemfontein, South Africa) as President and Prof. Mario R. Tredici (Florence, Italy) as President-elect. Prof. Roberto de Philippis (Florence, Italy) agreed to serve the Society as Treasurer/Secretary. In Montecatini Terme, it was decided to give to the new Society an interim name, International Society for Applied Phycology (ISAP), and it was decided to ask the members to vote on the the name. In addition, the President proposed to use the logo of the 8th International Conference on Applied Algology for the Society, and asked the members to vote on this decision.