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 • 17 Mar 2025
Newcastle prehabilitation cancer care program to expand to regional NSW
A Newcastle model of prehabilitation care for cancer patients prior to surgery, which aims to increase survival and improve quality of life, will be expanded to five rural and regional locations.
News • 07 Mar 2025
Celebrating Women in New South Wales: A Path to Equity
The Hunter has a rich history of empowering women and fostering gender equity. Women like Sue Murray, CEO of the Hunter Women's Centre, have empowered women through comprehensive support services, including counselling, legal advice, and educational workshops.
News • 07 Mar 2025
Innovation hotspot: Google partnership to study geothermal energy potential
Google Australia has partnered with the University of Newcastle to better understand Australia’s untapped renewable resource buried deep below the ground – geothermal energy from the Earth’s heat.
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.
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.