This book describes the work of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) since its launch 1992. Mapping the evolution of its agenda gives insight into the development of modern marine science in the context of competing demands of stakeholders within and outside the organization. The opening chapter consider the challenges of marine science as a large scale, and places PICES in the contexts of internationalism and science-based resource management. They also lay out the organization longstanding focus on the development of climate science and its applications. Subsequent chapters explore the pros and cons of national vs. international science, negotiating the nature of investigation and cooperation across scientific, political and institutional boundaries in the region; national perspectives on purpose, scope, and mandates; assessing two major initiatives undertaken to date; the challenges of incorporating social science into an organization of mainly natural scientists.