Most NABS members recognize the importance and value of taxonomic and systematic research in benthic science. Such work provides the foundation for research in many fields of biology, can be used to answer interesting questions regarding evolution, biogeography, and ecology, and is also vital for biomonitoring and assessment. However, many benthic scientists feel frustrated by taxonomic changes that seem trivial, yet have a huge impact on biomonitoring or ecological studies. Additionally, some may regard the role of taxonomy and systematics as simply providing identification tools for other benthic scientists. Some may even suggest that taxonomic & systematic studies lack robust and rigorous methodology. Furthermore, there is a pervasive view that DNA barcoding methods are more scientific and objective, making the work of traditional taxonomy obsolete. In this talk we will discuss such issues and also the challenges and concerns facing young taxonomic researchers. We will also provide a brief overview of this special session, including some of the various applications, modern analytical methods, and tools that will be discussed by our invited speakers.