The Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction (CMOP) is a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center. CMOP is creating a new paradigm for conducting coastal-margin science. It is anticipatory rather than reactive, and is based on the emerging power of structured integrations of information, methods and people. We call these integrations “collaboratories.” The center represents a large multi-institutional partnership. © 2012 Center for Coastal Margin Observation & Prediction