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 • 10 Nov 2017
Sex, Science and Society after 40 years of IVF
Today marks 40 years since the conception of the world’s first In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) child.
News • 10 Nov 2017
More than $6.7 million to drive the future of research
UON researchers were awarded $6.3 million to fund 16 Discovery Projects and $365,000 for a prestigious Discovery Early Career Researcher Award.
News • 07 Nov 2017
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor announces retirement at end of 2018
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Caroline McMillen, has announced she will retire from the University in October 2018.
News • 03 Nov 2017
University Network to Drive NSW Defence
The NSW Government will invest $1.25 million in a new university-led network to bolster defence-related research and development activity across the state.
News • 02 Nov 2017
New tool to tackle childhood obesity
The feedAustralia program is currently being trialled in early childhood education and care settings by the University of Newcastle.
News • 01 Nov 2017
World-first family health program launches
A ground-breaking program developed by University of Newcastle researchers has been awarded $350,000 in funding by the Greater Charitable Foundation.
News • 01 Nov 2017
UON and defence industry join forces in new facility
A new facility which will unite the research and innovation capabilities of the University of Newcastle (UON) and defence industry has launched at Williamtown.
News • 30 Oct 2017
Curious young learners celebrated
More than 500 students will attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Newcastle this week as part of the Children's University Newcastle program.
News • 30 Oct 2017
Historians awarded State Library fellowships
UON history researchers Dr Julie McIntyre and Dr Tim Stanley have each been awarded a prestigious 2018 NSW State Library Fellowship.
News • 30 Oct 2017
Educator celebrated for key advocacy work
UON lecturer in education, Mr David Roy, has been featured in The Educator’s prestigious 2017 Hot List as a notable leader in the sector.
News • 26 Oct 2017
Leading the charge for gender equity in academia
The University of Newcastle has announced an inaugural program that will seek to address the issue of retention of female academics in higher education.
News • 25 Oct 2017
Emissions reduction technology enters new phase
UON has unveiled a world-first demonstration facility to test new technology that captures methane emissions from underground coal mine operations.
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.