9. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of data repositories that store the knowledge data, the plurality of data repositories comprising data repositories of more than one repository type, wherein the place module enables the user to specify the subset of knowledge data by enabling the user to select a data repository from a plurality of data repositories, and wherein the specified subset of knowledge data is stored in the selected data repository.
2. A system for organizing knowledge data comprising: a place module that enables a user to specify a subset of knowledge data, wherein the knowledge data is organized according to one or more topical categories, the knowledge data comprising (i) user profiles that include information about one or more individuals, and (ii) documents that include information content created, edited, and/or accessed by the individuals, and wherein the information about the individuals included in the user profiles includes affinities of the individuals to documents and affinities of the individuals to the topical categories; a place, said place associated with the subset of the knowledge data, and said place including at least one portal having a search window for searching the subset of the knowledge data, a list for displaying indicia associated with individuals having user profile that include an affinity to the subset of the knowledge data, and communication means to initiate communication with these individuals; a search module that enables the user to initiate a search of the subset of the knowledge data using the search window and performs the search initiated by the user, and wherein performing the search comprises (i) identifying one or more of the documents that include information content related to the search and (ii) identifying one or more of the user profiles that include affinities to the identified documents; a display module that disp 1 ays indicia associated with the individuals that correspond to the user profiles that include affinities to the identified documents; a selection module that enables selection of one or more of the displayed indicia; and a communication module that enables initiation of communication with the individual or individuals associated with the selected indicia.