At ASL over the years we have been lambasted at intervals about how scientists do not communicate our science well to the people that make it happen – politicians and managers. As a scientist that has recently focussed attention on attempting to facilitate climate change adaptation of our aquatic ecosystems, I have been engaged in a variety of modes of communication with different audiences including large forums, workshops, talks, development and delivery of tools and risk assessment frameworks, web modules and interpretative guides. In my experience, there is a disconnect in the topics, spatial and temporal scales of information that managers/community want and what (and what can) scientists do. As climate change is happening so fast, our ability as a society to adapt to a new regime is lagging and the capacity to research, synthesise and uptake new information is not well resourced, especially as regards the inland aquatic environment. The issue is not necessarily communication per se but the need for a frank discussion and resourcing to define workable adaption pathways at appropriate scales. Some key elements are the adoption of a paradigm shift in natural resources policy and management, understanding the role of science in risk assessment, the impacts of multiple stressors and climate adaptation strategies from other sectors, an understanding of appropriate scale both for understanding and managing the issue, and the lack of a coordinated approach and appropriate foci for climate change adaptation. We all want to save our aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems. In this talk I suggest what are our strengths and weaknesses as scientists, and how we can use this knowledge to best effect, both individually and as a society.