Deliberative Mapping is an innovative method of public consultation, which integrates expert and citizen assessments and emphasises diversity and social learning as the basis for robust, democratic and accountable decision-making. The method is being developed to explore future options for treating end-stage kidney failure in a collaborative project involving SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Sussex, the Environment and Society Research Unit (ESRU) at UCL and the Policy Studies Institute. The project runs from June 2001 to March 2003 and is sponsored by the Wellcome Trust.