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 • 06 Feb 2018
ARC Linkage Project success for engineering authority
Professor Graham Goodwin has received an Australian Research Council Linkage Project to improve the operation of steam boilers in Australia’s sugar industry.
News • 02 Feb 2018
University of Newcastle Collaborates on Cyber Security Network
UON will lead a new $2million NSW Cyber Security Network announced today by the NSW Government.
News • 29 Jan 2018
UON salutes Australia Day honours recipients
The University congratulates and celebrates all Australians, in particular members of the UON community, named in the 2018 Australia Day honours.
News • 29 Jan 2018
Global analysis reveals how sharks travel the oceans to find food
A UON researcher is part of a major international collaboration that has revealed greater insight into the feeding habits of the world’s shark population.
News • 26 Jan 2018
Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley awarded Companion of the Order of Australia
Professor Talley’s award is the 10th Companion in the Order of Australia awarded to a UON recipient.
News • 25 Jan 2018
End of life conversations imperative to inform care
New research shoes only seven per cent of cancer patients having key conversation around end of life care with their doctor
News • 25 Jan 2018
Australia Day award honours outstanding women in research
Three exceptional UON researchers have been recognised as inspiring leaders with an Australia Day Honour from the National Women's Council of NSW
News • 19 Jan 2018
Funding to advance acute stroke therapies
Professor Chris Levi will be able to continue vital research into stroke treatment therapies after receiving funding from the Medical Research Future Fund.
News • 18 Jan 2018
Complimentary legal service for those who need it most
Novocastrians needing legal advice this summer are encouraged to tap into UON's free community legal advice clinics
News • 15 Jan 2018
International economics conference shines spotlight on Newcastle
UON's city campus continues to attract worldwide attention, with the 14th Western Economic Association International conference held at NeW Space last week
News • 12 Jan 2018
Property guardianship and the 21st century city
Dr Cathy Smith has been honoured with a prestigious Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) 2018 Richard Rogers Fellowship
News • 09 Jan 2018
Academic secures coveted Fellowship at the University of Cambridge
University of Newcastle mathematician, Dr Mike Meylan, will undertake a prestigious Clare Hall Visiting Fellowship at the University of Cambridge this year.
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.