Local Community Outreach for Energy Efficiency

The University of Newcastle provides programs to educate the local community about the importance of energy efficiency and clean energy.

In 2024, through the Centre for Organic Electronics (COE), we continued to raise awareness about solar technology and clean energy solutions. COE is a global leader in the exciting emerging field of 'functional printing', which uses conventional printing technologies to manufacture clever, high performing, low-cost materials to help solve some of the world's greatest challenges.

The Centre for Organic Electronics is marrying the creation of clever electronic inks with well-established printing technologies to address global challenges spanning renewable energy, health & medicine, and mining safety.

Their core focus is on translating cutting edge research for real world impact. As such, they partner with business, industry and government to generate products, systems and services that benefit our global community.

The COE is multidisciplinary, with expertise spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, health, design and communications. This depth and breadth of talent and expertise enables us to successfully manage projects from end-to-end.

Research themes include:

• printed solar
• biosensors & bioelectronics
• artificial colour retina
• scanning helium microscopy (SHeM)
• medical physics

Not just a hub for innovative research, the COE is one of the only research facilities in the world capable of also manufacturing printed electronic devices at commercial scale.

The University of Newcastle's Centre for Organic Electronics (COE) Successfully Hosted Its 14th Annual Spring School in 2024

In 2024, this three-day event provided undergraduate students from various disciplines, including Science, Math, IT, Engineering, and Medical Sciences, with an opportunity to explore cutting-edge research in organic electronics. The program featured lectures from local and international experts, hands-on experiences in COE labs, and interactive think tank sessions aimed at inspiring students to pursue research careers. Highlights included fabricating organic solar cells, operating advanced microscopes, racing simulated EV cars, and learning about Printed Solar and its recycling. Accredited by CIFAL Newcastle and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), students received formal recognition for their participation. The event, sponsored by Spruson & Ferguson Intellectual Property and the Australian National Fabrication Facility, saw students awarded for solar cell efficiency and EV racing. Following the event’s success, many students expressed interest in continuing their research journey with the COE.

In December 2024, University-made Printed Solar powered Coldplay concerts in COE partnership.

Coldplay has made significant commitments to sustainability, continuously exploring and applying new technologies to reduce their environmental impact. This partnership was another step towards achieving their ambitious sustainability goals to reduce their tour’s carbon emissions by 50%.

An array of 500 square meters (about twice the area of a tennis court) of Printed Solar was placed behind the seats behind the stage and elsewhere in the venue to collect power in battery packs. These batteries were then used to power Coldplay’s C Stage and fulfil other ancillary power needs throughout the venue.

Printed Solar uses organic photovoltaics (OPVs) which are a next-generation solar cell technology that uses organic compounds to convert sunlight into electricity. Now producing at scale with the support of the Newcastle Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Hub, located at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). Manufactured with PET plastic using roll-to-roll printing techniques and fully recycled in-house, Printed Solar is one of the lowest emission-intensive energy sources available.

Dr Ben Vaughan, Hub Manager for the ANFF, says Printed Solar has enormous potential for a variety of applications.

Members of TRaCE, NIER, COE and Kardinia Energy backstage at Accor Stadium.

The COE team in Newcastle holding up a roll of Printed Solar designed for the Coldplay concert.

News • 11 Aug 2026

Researchers uncover a silver lining to Australia’s solar panel landfill problem

Australia’s growing mountain of solar panel waste could become far more valuable, with University of Newcastle researchers taking a major step towards making solar panel-recycling economically sustainable.

News • 10 Aug 2026

Overcoming silence: a renewed effort to listen to the voices of religious sisters

Efforts to engage with the rarely heard stories of religious sisters have received a renewed pledge of support to further inform Australia’s understanding of women’s experiences in the Church.

News • 07 Aug 2026

Two Hunter researchers backed with $200,000 to turn breakthrough ideas into better health

Two Hunter researchers have secured the 2026 Newcastle Permanent Innovator Fellowships, receiving $100,000 each to help turn their medical research ideas into life-saving solutions.

News • 04 Aug 2026

University of Newcastle welcomes additional Commonwealth Supported Places to strengthen regional medical workforce

The University of Newcastle has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of 50 additional Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for medical students …

News • 04 Aug 2026

Contractor awarded for university’s 450-bed student accommodation at Callaghan Campus

The University of Newcastle has moved a step closer to delivering more affordable housing for students, appointing Hansen Yuncken as principal contractor for a new 450-bed accommodation development at Callaghan Campus.

News • 31 Jul 2026

National intelligence funding secured to turn hackers’ thinking against them

A University of Newcastle project designed to expose and exploit weaknesses in the way cyber attackers think has been awarded $783,409 Office of National Intelligence funding through the National Intelligence Discovery Grant program, funded by the Australian Government.

News • 30 Jul 2026

$4m in NHMRC grants to transform healthcare and disease prevention

University of Newcastle researchers have secured a total of more than $4 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding to support three projects across biomedical, clinical, public health and health services research.

News • 29 Jul 2026

National digital asthma trial helping adults to breathe easier

Asthma Australia and the University of Newcastle are inviting adults with asthma to take part in a national digital trial designed to make day-to-day asthma management easier.

News • 23 Jul 2026

University of Newcastle welcomes extension of prac payments

The University of Newcastle welcomes the Australian Government’s decision to expand the Commonwealth Prac Payment to students undertaking placements in …

News • 23 Jul 2026

Recipe for healthier kids: $4.9m research project to transform food and nutrition in Australian childcare

Healthy futures start on the plate, with a new NSW-wide collaboration set to improve nutrition for young Australians in childcare services - helping prevent chronic disease and securing their paths to stronger lifelong wellbeing.

News • 16 Jul 2026

Grassroots communities share storytelling to preserve environmental gems

A beautiful cross-cultural storytelling project facilitated by the University of Newcastle is amplifying the voices of climate-facing communities and deepening understanding of the environmental and cultural significance of wetlands and waterways across the Pacific.

News • 15 Jul 2026

MRFF funding to kick off brain cancer patient platform

A team of early career researchers is set to kick-start a new project aimed at delivering better outcomes for brain cancer patients with funding from the Medical Research Future Fund.

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