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 • 12 Mar 2018
Accelerated carbonation experts convene in Newcastle
Two world-leading chemical engineers from the University of Newcastle will chair a major international conference in Newcastle next week, which will focus on the future of accelerated carbonation.
News • 12 Mar 2018
University of Newcastle establishes first Doctoral Training Centre
The University of Newcastle has today launched its inaugural Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) focused on supporting the Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector.
News • 07 Mar 2018
Accelerating research into practice
Three pioneering teams from the University of Newcastle (UON) have been accepted into CSIRO’s ON Prime 4 pre-accelerator program
News • 07 Mar 2018
Architecture graduate named best in the state
Master of Architecture alumnus, Andrew Hannah-Davies, from the University of Newcastle has received the prestigious New South Wales (NSW) Graduate Medal.
News • 02 Mar 2018
Road to Birth delivers world-first virtual window into pregnancy
A ground-breaking development in virtual reality technology at UON has given world-first visual insight into the internal stages of childbearing and its effect on the human body, signifying a huge step for health practitioners and expectant parents globally
News • 01 Mar 2018
University of Newcastle stars in QS Subject global rankings
Fifteen University of Newcastle subjects have earned a prestigious place among the world’s top 200, including six in the top …
News • 28 Feb 2018
Students design new healthcare solutions
Honours student, Richard O'Regan, will be one of the first to use his design skills to tackle the nation's biggest health issues through an inaugural scholarship scheme supported by nib.
News • 28 Feb 2018
Young scientist recognised as emerging researcher
Emerging postdoctoral researcher, Dr Lee Ashton, has been selected to attend the highly prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting being held in Germany this June.
News • 27 Feb 2018
Fulbright scholarships to enhance health research
Two researchers from the University of Newcastle (UON) have received prestigious international scholarships through the Fulbright Program to further their research in the field of health.
News • 27 Feb 2018
Innovative partnership aimed at impact in Kenya
A collaboration between academics and government representatives, the Australia Awards fellowship is aimed at strengthening public service performance and building governance capacity in Kenya.
News • 23 Feb 2018
UON biotech startup sells for $502 million
Oncolytic virotherapy firm Viralytics, which originated from the work of UON's Associate Professor Darren Shafren, has been acquired for $502 million by world-leading pharmaceutical company, Merck.
News • 21 Feb 2018
Humble salt fights mass frog extinction
It’s been touted a natural health cure for centuries, now a University of Newcastle study reveals that humble salt may halt devastating chytrid disease in frogs
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.