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 • 05 Oct 2016
Lifetime achievement award for Laureate Professor Jameson
Laureate Professor Graeme Jameson was recently presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC).
News • 30 Sep 2016
Researches shine as Australia’s brightest minds recognised
Three University of Newcastle (UON) researchers have been recognised for their outstanding work in the field of scientific discovery at …
News • 28 Sep 2016
Disease fighting superfood
University of Newcastle (UON) scientist, Dr Vincent Candrawinata has developed the most potent dietary antioxidant available anywhere in the world
News • 28 Sep 2016
Graduation celebrations commence at Callaghan
More than 1000 University of Newcastle (UON) graduates will be joined by their family and friends in the Great Hall this week to mark a special milestone
News • 28 Sep 2016
World-first MOOC starts UON’s new partnership with edX
The University of Newcastle (UON) has partnered with edX, the leading nonprofit online learning destination.
News • 28 Sep 2016
World-first online course grants access to leading Australian artists
Natural History Illustration online course grants access to leading Australian artists
News • 27 Sep 2016
UON Graduates Indigenous Trailblazer
will be the first Indigenous graduate in NSW to obtain a double degree in science and mathematics at the University of Newcastle’s (UON) graduation this week
News • 27 Sep 2016
Lifetime Achievement Award For ELFS Director
Associate Professor Seamus Fagan, Director of the English Language and Foundation Studies Centre at UON has received a Lifetime Achievement award.
News • 26 Sep 2016
Major breakthrough for Hunter innovation
A $9.8 million commitment from the NSW Government will support the Hunter Innovation Project.
News • 26 Sep 2016
UON joins elite circle in world innovation
The University of Newcastle has been inducted into the prestigious Leaders Circle of the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centres (GCEC).
News • 22 Sep 2016
NIER engineering project awarded for excellence
The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) received accolades at the Engineers Australia Excellence Awards on Friday September 16.
News • 22 Sep 2016
UON ranks in top 250 global universities in THE world rankings
UON is delighted to be recognised as one of the top 250 global universities in the prestigious 2016-17 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
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.