AbstractThis paper is intended to provoke thought and discussion rather than to set out any ‘right way’ to communicate geoscience information. Public administration is complex, operating at several levels. It involves a wide variety of people, many of whom have little or no geoscience knowledge. It is important for geoscientists to understand administrative procedures so that results can be provided in the right form at the optimum time. There should also be a good understanding of the views, requirements and capacities of each potential target audience. This is best achieved through direct consultation and discussion. Consultation also helps to build trust and to guide the design of specific products. Results need to be presented logically, clearly and in straightforward language supported by good illustrations. These need to be tailored to fit the needs of each target audience; a single output will seldom meet the specific needs of all. The focus should be on the matters that are of importance to each audience, rather than on the research as such. Good dissemination of results is crucial and may require continuing efforts rather than just taking place at the end of the study. Consultation, presentation for non-specialists, and dissemination are time consuming. There needs to be adequate provision of staff time and money to support these. This may require a change in attitudes of some funding organizations. It is wise to plan consultation, presentation and dissemination from the commencement of work, revising plans as a fuller understanding of systems and audience requirements is gained.