The relatively small, but extremely resource-rich Arctic Ocean is under considerable pressure from a resource-hungry world. Our scientific approach is often characterized by national, sectorial approaches. However, the Arctic Ocean cannot be understood, let alone managed, without an all-encompassing, pan-Arctic perspective. In natural science, first steps have been taken to achieve such a holistic understanding of the contemporary Arctic Ocean, but to support a sustainable and wisely managed Arctic Ocean in the future, the integrative work has to be carefully and wholeheartedly expanded. Suggestions, such as the integration of national investigations and the education of a future generation of scientists can improve the indispensable understanding of the entire Arctic, resulting in adequate comprehension and management.