Mediated modeling is an innovative new approach that uses the process of building computer models as a tool to help solve complex environmental policy and management problems. Rather than having outside experts dispensing "answers" to stakeholders, mediated modeling brings together diverse interests to jointly construct a simulation model to raise the level of shared understanding of the problem and foster a broad and deep consensus. It provides a structured process based on system dynamics thinking in which community members, government officials, industry representatives, academics and other stakeholders can work together to produce a coherent, simple but elegant simulation model that can serve as the basis for sustainable solutions to recalcitrant problems.