Affordable and Clean Energy
Local Community Outreach for Energy Efficiency
The University of Newcastle delivers community and school outreach that helps people explore energy efficiency, clean energy technologies and the role of engineering in a lower-emissions future.
Clean energy innovation in the Hunter
On 2 April 2025, the University's I2N Startup Stories program at the Honeysuckle Innovation Hub featured University alumnus Peter Richardson, founder and CEO of Facet Amtech. The public event explored how a Newcastle cleantech startup is making ammonia production cleaner and more energy efficient, using less energy while reducing emissions and manufacturing costs.
The session connected clean-energy research and entrepreneurship with the Hunter's startup community, showing how energy-efficiency innovation can move from the laboratory into practical industrial applications.
Peter Richardson, founder and CEO of Facet Amtech.
Energy learning through the Science and Engineering Challenge
The University's Science and Engineering Challenge is a nationwide STEM outreach program delivered in partnership with communities, Rotary clubs, universities and sponsors. In 2025, more than 26,800 students from over 873 schools took part, including Challenge and Discovery Days in Newcastle, the Central Coast and other regional communities.
Energy and sustainability are built into the program's hands-on activities. In ElectraCITY, students design an electricity network for a model city and must find the most efficient, lowest-cost way to supply buildings while accounting for cable resistance and infrastructure costs. Other activities include wind-turbine design and environmentally responsive housing.
The 2025 event calendar included Newcastle Challenge Days from 4-10 April and Newcastle Discovery Days from 8-12 September, alongside events throughout New South Wales and every Australian state and territory.
The National Science and Engineering Challenge
Building energy literacy through practical outreach
These programs give school students, community members, innovators and local industry practical ways to engage with energy efficiency and clean-energy solutions. They connect technical concepts with real-world decisions about electricity use, industrial processes, renewable technologies and sustainable design.
2024 Annual Spring School
The University of Newcastle's centre for organic electronics (COE) successfully hosted its 14th annual spring school. 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.
COE, the University of Newcastle Australia 5:43
Learn more
News • 17 Dec 2025
Breaking barriers: First doctors graduate from equity pathway
Their backgrounds are vastly different, yet one thing bonds them – they made history when entering their medicine degree together five years ago.
News • 16 Dec 2025
Translating compassion: a linguist's commitment to social inclusion
Dr Suzan Makhloof is a decorated lecturer in linguistics and cross-cultural communication, teaching English in Hunter schools to students from diverse backgrounds. Marking the completion of the PhD in linguistics, she will cross the stage at University of Newcastle graduation on Tuesday, 16 December.
News • 15 Dec 2025
Injury to aid: brain trauma prompts vow to help students prosper in special education
From being directed ‘not to learn anything new’ four years ago, Ruby Jones could not have transformed her trajectory in a more extravagant way. Marking the completion of her Bachelor of Education, she will cross the stage at the University of Newcastle ceremony on Monday, 15 December.
News • 12 Dec 2025
A gift of life inspires a future in science
For Bachelor of Science (Advanced) graduate, Jessica McCourt, the culmination of her studies represents far more than a university degree – it marks a journey defined by grit, perseverance and remarkable poise in the face of health challenges.
News • 12 Dec 2025
Life-changing pathway delivers first doctors as graduations cap off 60th year
The University of Newcastle will culminate its 60th anniversary year by celebrating the first doctors to graduate from its Excellence …
News • 11 Dec 2025
Scientists find a fast, new way to recover high-grade silver from end-of-life solar panels
University of Newcastle researchers have developed a fast, safe and highly effective method to recover high grade silver from end-of-life solar panels, without using acid.
News • 09 Dec 2025
University of Newcastle’s I2N takes out top honours
The University of Newcastle’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) has been named the most recommended startup accelerator in Australia by Startup …
News • 08 Dec 2025
HMRI celebrates excellence in research and innovation at 2025 awards
Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) recognised the outstanding achievements of its research community at the 2025 HMRI Awards, held at Newcastle City Hall on Friday evening.
News • 01 Dec 2025
Exercise for students with disability boosts wellbeing beyond the classroom
An innovative school exercise program targeting students living with a disability has shown short bursts of physical activity during the school day significantly improve health and learning outcomes.
News • 28 Nov 2025
University of Newcastle previews new Gosford building
The University of Newcastle has taken a major step in expanding higher education on the Central Coast, with construction now complete on the new Gosford Central building on Mann Street ahead of its Semester 1, 2026 opening.
News • 26 Nov 2025
Sustainable beauty innovators and blood donation champions among students recognised at Employability Excellence Awards
The University of Newcastle has recognised its next generation of change-makers, from entrepreneurs tackling waste and sustainability, to passionate leaders driving community health initiatives, at this year’s Employability Excellence Awards.
News • 26 Nov 2025
Early career researchers awarded more than $2.1m ARC DECRA funding to drive future innovation
Four outstanding early-career researchers from the University of Newcastle have secured more than $2.1 million in the highly competitive Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA).
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.