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 • 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.
News • 07 Feb 2025
Record number of New Colombo Scholars to exchange knowledge in Indo-Pacific
The University of Newcastle has secured more than $1.9 million to support 334 students to participate in 23 New Colombo Plan (NCP) Mobility projects across 14 countries in the Indo-Pacific region over the next two years.
News • 03 Feb 2025
$2 million NHMRC grant brings childhood cancer cure step closer
A University of Newcastle research team has been awarded a $2 million National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant to help progress its mission to develop breakthrough treatments for the most lethal form of childhood cancer, diffuse midline glioma (DMG).
News • 28 Jan 2025
Outstanding community members celebrated in 2025 Australia Day Honours
The University of Newcastle extends its congratulations to all recipients who have been recognised in the 2025 Australia Day Honours, particularly celebrating those that make up a growing and important part of our University community.
News • 22 Jan 2025
From high-altitude hiking to sleep apnoea, study explores the impact on male fertility
Medical conditions that deprive the testes of oxygen, such as sleep apnoea, may be contributing to the decline in male fertility observed over the past 50 years, a new study suggests.
News • 20 Jan 2025
University secures $20.7m innovation facility - a fast track to net zero for industry
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has today visited the University of Newcastle to announce $20.7 million in funding to develop a ‘Future Industries Facility’ at the university’s Callaghan Campus. It will bring together undergraduate students, SMEs and community from across the Hunter to test and scale-up new technology and upskill people.
News • 16 Jan 2025
Ngarrama returns to light up Newcastle
Ngarrama will illuminate King Edward Park on Saturday 25 January when the University of Newcastle proudly welcomes the community back for its annual reflection event.
News • 17 Dec 2024
Aradhana finds strength in supporting others
Motivated to become a nurse after helping care for her mum, Aradhana (Anna) knew she wanted to dedicate her life to supporting people when they need it most.
News • 16 Dec 2024
Tori digs up past to plan for her future
Finding the body is vital in any murder investigation. PhD graduate, Victoria (Tori) Berezowski’s research focused on innovative techniques to help locate hidden graves.
News • 13 Dec 2024
Maddie aspires to build engineering dreams
Inspired by her father’s career and choosing to follow in his footsteps, Maddie Huynh is graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours).
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.