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 • 04 Jul 2017
UON takes out the 2017 Indigenous Unigames
A team of student-athletes from the University of Newcastle (UON) won the 2017 Indigenous Unigames held last week at Deakin University in Geelong.
News • 03 Jul 2017
NSW regional alliance takes centre stage
A healthcare partnership that aligns clinicians and researchers across the Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid-North Coast districts has been formed.
News • 03 Jul 2017
Telehealth trial connecting rural kids to better nutrition
A new HMRI nutrition project supported by nib foundation will use telehealth technology to bring a dietitian “virtually” into the homes of rural families.
News • 30 Jun 2017
Proud staff prepare for NEW era
UON's $95 million NeW Space facility will soon be welcoming students and the community, with staff moving into the building on Monday 3 July.
News • 30 Jun 2017
Volunteers prepare to blaze a trail for Indigenous education
A group of UON students, alumni, staff and community friends have gathered ahead of the ambitious 65km trek across the Larapinta Trail.
News • 29 Jun 2017
New app-roach to carbs for pregnant women
A University of Newcastle nutrition study is aiming to help pregnant women beat confusion related to how much carbohydrate they should eat.
News • 21 Jun 2017
Peeling back the layers of Newcastle's History
We followed historian and senior lecturer Dr Nancy Cushing outside the lecture theatre and onto the streets of Newcastle as she helped a group of locals retrace
News • 16 Jun 2017
Horse riding and rhythm-and-music helping stroke recovery
Stroke survivors’ perception of recovery, gait, balance, grip strength and cognition can improve, Professor Michael Nilsson explains.
News • 15 Jun 2017
Why melting ice might be good for climate change
UON scientists have decoded a 24,000-year-old riddle and discovered a surprising role Antarctic volcanoes play in global climate.
News • 14 Jun 2017
Health impact of domestic violence lasts a lifetime
Women who experience intimate partner violence have significant, long-term physical and mental health problems according to UON researchers.
News • 13 Jun 2017
UON leaders recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2017 Honours
University of Newcastle alumni, academics and affiliates have been recognised for their remarkable work in the Queen’s Birthday 2017 Honours
News • 09 Jun 2017
A clear approach to the global threat of contamination
UON unveils a $15 million world-leading lab facility dedicated to finding better ways to assess, manage, clean up and prevent environmental contamination.
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.