The document discusses how ESIP (Earth Science Information Partners) uses virtual communities and platforms to facilitate collaboration around earth science data. It provides examples of how ESIP creates wikis, social media listening tools, and hybrid meeting spaces to allow distributed groups to find, discuss, and share data. These virtual "planks" and "workspaces" help scale collaboration across disciplines and communities. The goal is to support interoperability at multiple levels and allow earth scientists and IT practitioners to produce returns by working together in a connected, social way.