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 • 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 • 10 Jul 2026

Hydro Harvester secures $1.9 million for WA farm trial

A University of Newcastle-led project that harvests water from the atmosphere has secured $1,904,166 funding through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Innovation Challenges Pilot Program.

News • 10 Jul 2026

Rare colour shifting discovered in iconic Australian frog

University of Newcastle researchers have documented one of the clearest examples of iridescence ever recorded in an amphibian, revealing that the endangered green and golden bell frog (Ranoidea aurea) possesses intricate colour-shifting skin previously unseen in the species.

News • 09 Jul 2026

National trial spotlights cultural safety in health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

A national trial of a new tool designed to measure cultural safety in health services from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, will aim to track progress and ultimately lift health outcomes.

News • 09 Jul 2026

Student-led design creates legacy for Newcastle City Campus

A new public gathering space integrating Newcastle’s First Nations’ and industrial heritage will become a centrepiece of the University’s city student accommodation, following a student-led design project delivered in partnership with industry.

News • 08 Jul 2026

Gift or loan? The legal grey area of the ‘bank of mum and dad’

A growing reliance on familial financial support is presenting unprecedented legal risks for Australian families, leaving both parents and adult children vulnerable to costly disputes and fractured relationships.

News • 07 Jul 2026

University of Newcastle takes out 30th anniversary of Indigenous Nationals on home soil

The University of Newcastle and the Wollotuka Institute have proudly celebrated 30 Years of Indigenous Nationals, welcoming more than 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student-athletes from 31 universities across Australia for the milestone event.

News • 07 Jul 2026

New medical engineering tech aims to speed up recovery for burns victims

A new medical engineering technology developed at the University of Newcastle could significantly improve recovery outcomes for burn patients.

News • 06 Jul 2026

‘Outed’ by the algorithm – how social media is revealing queer identity ahead of self-disclosure

Social media algorithms are increasingly revealing users’ sexual orientation or gender identity before they have consciously come out to themselves …

News • 01 Jul 2026

University of Newcastle and Tower Cinemas partner to support the next generation of creatives

The University of Newcastle has partnered with Newcastle Tower Cinema to support emerging creative talent and provide students with discounted …

News • 29 Jun 2026

Beanies deliver greater imaging insight for brain cancer researchers

The Australian public and wider rugby league community has supported the Mark Hughes Foundation to raise $3.8 million across the 2026 NRL Beanie for Brain Cancer Round. The Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle will use the proceeds to purchase a unique MRI-PET Imaging Machine to drive new drug development.

News • 25 Jun 2026

Australia’s social media age restrictions show limited early impact, new research finds

New research examining the early implementation of Australia’s world-first social media age restrictions for under 16s has revealed little change in adolescence use of the platforms.

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