Abstract Geologists whose research deals with environmental problems such as landslides, floods, earthquakes and other natural hazards that affect people's health and safety must communicate their results effectively to the public, policy-makers and politicians. There are many examples of geological studies being ignored in policy and public action; this is in due in part to geoscientists being poor communicators. Scientists often use complicated and difficult to understand language, talk mostly to other scientists, and are not trained to work with the media. They generally are not encouraged by their employers and funding agencies to communicate to non-scientists. Environmental geoscientists must make their research publications more accessible to the public by including plain-language summaries. They should work with media and communications professionals, and seek training in how to communicate better. They need to understand the different approaches that will work with different audiences. Universities, employers and funding agencies should encourage environmental geoscientists to improve communication skills, and to reward attempts to explain their research to non-scientists.

Abstract Indigenous peoples occupy many of the world's coastal zones, and have used and managed coastal and marine resources for millennia. As a result they have accumulated extensive knowledge about these environments that supported their ability to colonize new territories in the past and informs their on-going adaptive responses to environmental, climatic and socio-cultural changes. This paper examines the adaptive capacity of Indigenous peoples over time and across a range of coastal settings. It begins with a discussion of some reasons for the relative neglect, until recently, of cultural adaptations in coastal settings. The experiences of a selection of Indigenous groups in each of three coastal zones – Arctic, Temperate and Tropical – are then explored in relation to various adaptive mechanisms they have employed traditionally as well as in contemporary contexts. Comparison across these experiences indicates that Indigenous peoples regard the coast as an integral component of a land–sea continuum that provides enhanced food security, important cultural and spiritual attachments, and valuable opportunities for social interaction and learning. Coastal science and policy initiatives stand to benefit from greater consideration of the adaptive strategies of Indigenous coastal peoples.