Using Student ePortfolios to Showcase Students' Learning: Experience from Hong Kong Baptist University

This chapter gives a descriptive account on the pilot in using learning electronic portfolios (ePortfolios) to facilitate students' reflective practice of their learning at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). The Opportunities and challenges faced by HKBU are explained to share experience in our continuing endeavour to enhance teaching and learning quality at the University

Antibiofilm, Antifouling, and Anticorrosive Biomaterials and Nanomaterials for Marine Applications

Formation of biofilms is one of the most serious problems affecting the integrity of marine structures both onshore and offshore. These biofilms are the key reasons for fouling of marine structures. Biofilm and biofouling cause severe economic loss to the marine industry. It has been estimated that around 10% of fuel is additionally spent when the hull of ship is affected by fouling. However, the prevention and control treatments for biofilms and biofouling of marine structures often involve toxic materials which pose severe threat to the marine environment and are strictly regulated by international maritime conventions. In this context, biomaterials for the treatment of biofilms, fouling, and corrosion of marine structures assume much significance. In recent years, due to the technological advancements, various nanomaterials and nanostructures have revolutionized many of the biological applications including antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosive applications in marine environment. Many of the biomaterials such as furanones and some polypeptides are found to have antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosive potentials. Many of the nanomaterials such as metal (titanium, silver, zinc, copper, etc.) nanoparticles, nanocomposites, bioinspired nanomaterials, and metallic nanotubes were found to exhibit antifouling and anticorrosive applications in marine environment. Both biomaterials and nanomaterials have been used in the control and prevention of biofilms, biofouling, and corrosion in marine structures. In recent years, the biomaterials and nanomaterials were also characterized to have the ability to inhibit bacterial quorum sensing and thereby control biofilm formation, biofouling, and corrosion in marine structures. This chapter would provide an overview of the biomaterials from diverse sources and various category of nanomaterials for their use in antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosion treatments with special reference to marine applications