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
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News • 27 Mar 2018
Premier’s Volunteer Recognition Program Awards
Three University of Newcastle volunteers were today recognised for their contribution to youth education and presented with the Premier’s Volunteer Recognition Program award by Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp.
News • 27 Mar 2018
New clinical ‘toolkit’ to help nail severe asthma management
A new clinical ‘toolkit’ designed to improve the management of severe asthma has been launched at the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Adelaide.
News • 27 Mar 2018
Call for pregnant women to trial visual app for diet control
A smartphone app that uses augmented reality to help with diet management during pregnancy has received highly positive feedback from women trialling it.
News • 26 Mar 2018
From City of Steel to Global Innovation Hub
The insights, deliberations and reflections of global thought leaders brought together by the 2016 Univer-Cities conference, hosted by the University of Newcastle, have been documented in a book, to be launched tonight.
News • 26 Mar 2018
NeW Space builds on success with top architecture gong
The University of Newcastle’s (UON) flagship City campus has taken out the top prize at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2018 Newcastle Architecture Awards, held on Friday 23 March.
News • 23 Mar 2018
justiceINjustice: A collaboration between artists and lawyers
justiceINjustice is a unique collaborative exhibition featuring seven contemporary Australian artists and three lawyers, including two law academics who are integral to the University of Newcastle Legal Centre.
News • 23 Mar 2018
University of Newcastle welcomes its first American Fulbright Scholars
In an historic first, under a partnership agreement with Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the University of Newcastle will officially welcome three American Fulbright Scholars this week.
News • 23 Mar 2018
Easter Show Forum: a coalition for action to reduce rural suicide rates
The University of Newcastle’s Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) will meet with key community partners to determine …
News • 21 Mar 2018
Indigenous language link reveals common ancestor
New research has found a ground-breaking link between Australian Indigenous languages, demonstrating for the first time that all Indigenous languages descend from one common ancestor
News • 19 Mar 2018
Cyclical nature of flooding could land Australia in deep water
New research from the University of Newcastle (UON) has found further evidence to support the notion that severe flooding events occur cyclically, challenging the widely accepted assumption that floods occur randomly
News • 15 Mar 2018
UON research reveals benefits of effective complaints handling
University of Newcastle research has revealed that every dollar invested in complaints handling has potential returns of investment of up to $10 for a business.
News • 13 Mar 2018
Laureate Professor Kevin Galvin awarded international honour
University of Newcastle Laureate Professor Kevin Galvin has been awarded the prestigious Antoine M. Gaudin Award, which recognises scientific or engineering contributions that further understanding of the technology of mineral processing.
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.