Listen to your critics, pay heed to pressure groups, and find out what people want to know before designing your communications or committing to actions. The deficit model of communication is long gone, and public dialogue must act on people's concerns. Since we were founded in 1991 The Walnut Bureau has believed that public consultation should help to shape the way we behave in society, and influence actions and opinions upstream of decisions. We will identify target audiences, stakeholder groups, key messages and communications tools.

The Walnut Bureau has developed schools speakers programmes and teachers packs for charities; an environmental issues programme with the Schools Health Education Unit at the University of Exeter; Postgraduate Education Authority approved lectures on medico-legal issues; and frequent guest lectures on communications, media skills and pressure group activities for UK universities and science communicators conferences. We also moderate cafe scientifique in the UK, Europe and lately, Mexico.

We have produced popular public events such as the Stand Up Science Show! at the British Association annual festival, British Association and Edinburgh Festival debates, and public events at the Association of Science Educators conference. We are registered as Regional Development Agency approved consultancy.