S3AIL (Socially Situated Science for Authentic Inquiry Learning) is a learning environment that situates science learning in the practice of science. It integrates social networking, scientific data collection and visualization to support an inquiry-based Ecology curriculum. S3AIL consists of a low-cost set of data collection tools, complemented with an online data visualization platform that allows students to aggregate data and visualize multiple representations of the data, within a social network. Situating data visualization within a social network provides a platform for students to engage in scientific discourse and analysis both inside and outside of the classroom, facilitating a scientific community of practice.