Despite nearly 40 years of  thermal regulatory requirements under the Clean Water Act, a significant void remains among scientists, regulated industries, regulators, educators and opposing groups on how thermal discharges affect aquatic biota and habitat in receiving waters. This void is not a result of disinterest or lack of effort, but more likely due to ineffective communications among these groups in describing innovative approaches, target organisms and results of thermal research as they try to understand thermal impacts. This symposium will highlight innovations and promising approaches being applied and tested to better understand thermal impacts on organisms in receiving waters of freshwater and marine environments. Finally, the symposium will highlight strategies for better communicating thermal research among interested parties.