Local Community Outreach for Energy Efficiency

The University of Newcastle provides programs to educate the local community about the importance of energy efficiency and clean energy.

In 2024, through the Centre for Organic Electronics (COE), we continued to raise awareness about solar technology and clean energy solutions. COE is a global leader in the exciting emerging field of 'functional printing', which uses conventional printing technologies to manufacture clever, high performing, low-cost materials to help solve some of the world's greatest challenges.

The Centre for Organic Electronics is marrying the creation of clever electronic inks with well-established printing technologies to address global challenges spanning renewable energy, health & medicine, and mining safety.

Their core focus is on translating cutting edge research for real world impact. As such, they partner with business, industry and government to generate products, systems and services that benefit our global community.

The COE is multidisciplinary, with expertise spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, health, design and communications. This depth and breadth of talent and expertise enables us to successfully manage projects from end-to-end.

Research themes include:

• printed solar
• biosensors & bioelectronics
• artificial colour retina
• scanning helium microscopy (SHeM)
• medical physics

Not just a hub for innovative research, the COE is one of the only research facilities in the world capable of also manufacturing printed electronic devices at commercial scale.

The University of Newcastle's Centre for Organic Electronics (COE) Successfully Hosted Its 14th Annual Spring School in 2024

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.

In December 2024, University-made Printed Solar powered Coldplay concerts in COE partnership.

Coldplay has made significant commitments to sustainability, continuously exploring and applying new technologies to reduce their environmental impact. This partnership was another step towards achieving their ambitious sustainability goals to reduce their tour’s carbon emissions by 50%.

An array of 500 square meters (about twice the area of a tennis court) of Printed Solar was placed behind the seats behind the stage and elsewhere in the venue to collect power in battery packs. These batteries were then used to power Coldplay’s C Stage and fulfil other ancillary power needs throughout the venue.

Printed Solar uses organic photovoltaics (OPVs) which are a next-generation solar cell technology that uses organic compounds to convert sunlight into electricity. Now producing at scale with the support of the Newcastle Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Hub, located at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). Manufactured with PET plastic using roll-to-roll printing techniques and fully recycled in-house, Printed Solar is one of the lowest emission-intensive energy sources available.

Dr Ben Vaughan, Hub Manager for the ANFF, says Printed Solar has enormous potential for a variety of applications.

Members of TRaCE, NIER, COE and Kardinia Energy backstage at Accor Stadium.

The COE team in Newcastle holding up a roll of Printed Solar designed for the Coldplay concert.

News • 07 Mar 2025

Central Coast Campus reaches new heights as University of Newcastle celebrates topping out milestone

The University of Newcastle's new Central Coast Campus in Gosford has achieved a major milestone with the completion of the building's structure. The 'topping out' marks a crucial step in the project, bringing it closer to its anticipated completion later this year.

News • 28 Feb 2025

Record exhibition celebrates Coasts up and coming young artists

The Coast Next Gen Art Exhibition is back for its third and biggest year yet, with 39 inspiring HSC graduates from 14 participating schools on the Central Coast exhibiting their outstanding artwork, from painting and photography to sculpture and digital design.

News • 27 Feb 2025

Life after cancer is stronger with a healthy heart

To help cancer patients and survivors understand the impact of cancer treatments on heart health, the Newcastle Centre of Excellence in Cardio-Oncology, in collaboration with HMRI, is hosting a free Q&A session.

News • 25 Feb 2025

National University Teaching Awards celebrate exceptional University of Newcastle educators

Four academics from the University of Newcastle have been honoured with prestigious Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).

News • 19 Feb 2025

Collaboration and commitment central to brain cancer mission

The Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle will bring the world’s best minds to Newcastle for the 2025 International Brain Tumour Research Summit.

News • 18 Feb 2025

HMRI partners with Novartis to supercharge heart health impact

The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Novartis Australia, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), supported by collaboration with the University of Newcastle.

News • 18 Feb 2025

Thousands to attend Welcome Week as University of Newcastle kicks-off academic year

The University of Newcastle is kicking off Welcome Week activities as more than 10,000 new students start their university journey in 2025.

News • 14 Feb 2025

$1.9m funding boost for the Next Gen STEM program in schools

The University of Newcastle’s acclaimed Science and Engineering Challenge has been awarded $1.9 million funding as part of the Australian Government’s School Pathways Program.

News • 12 Feb 2025

Hunter residents report stronger financial skills than metro neighbours

Hunter residents have the edge over their metropolitan neighbours, with higher levels of financial confidence and stronger financial planning skills, research released by NGM Group and the University of Newcastle’s Institute for Regional Futures shows.

News • 11 Feb 2025

Newcastle child nutrition education program to expand internationally

University of Newcastle researchers will develop a significant scale-up of a program to educate families about child feeding and nutrition thanks to a $417,000 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) / e-ASIA Joint Research Program Grant.

News • 11 Feb 2025

Sport, their way – funding boost to keep teen girls in the game

Researchers at the University of Newcastle have secured $868,000 in state government funding to develop a program aimed at keeping teenage girls in sport, while tackling key challenges like body image, self-esteem, mental health, screentime behaviours and social media pressures.

News • 11 Feb 2025

New grant for spinal cord study supports significant step towards better pain treatments

A University of Newcastle research team has secured a $940,000 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant to examine the role of spinal cord cells in processing and producing pain signals, which could have a significant impact on how chronic pain is treated.

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