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 • 12 Jan 2024

Newcastle’s largest reconciliation event Ngarrama returns stronger than ever

Building on two successful years of reflection, the University of Newcastle is proud to welcome the wider community once again to Ngarrama.

News • 15 Dec 2023

$10.3m NHMRC Investigator grants help search for health solutions

Six University of Newcastle researchers have been awarded more than $10.3m in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator grants* to tackle health problems such as pre-term labour, schizophrenia, endometrial and lung cancers, as well as asthma.

News • 15 Dec 2023

Evidence of equity action puts University of Newcastle first in Australia

The University of Newcastle has today been recognised as a national leader in gender equity and Indigenous participation.

News • 14 Dec 2023

Researchers discover neuronal biomarkers of schizophrenia in the blood

University of Newcastle researcher Professor Murray Cairns and his Precision Medicine team at HMRI have discovered a unique biomarker in the blood of people with schizophrenia.

News • 13 Dec 2023

Popular courses revealed as choice and lifestyle draw students to University of Newcastle

As more than 50,000 students across NSW await their ATAR results and lock in their University enrolment choices, the University of Newcastle has revealed some of its most popular courses for 2024.

News • 12 Dec 2023

Midwifery research delivers insight into student learning

A self-proclaimed life-long learner, with 25 years midwifery experience to her name, Nicole Hainsworth has always yearned to improve practices for mother and baby. Today the University of Newcastle teaching academic will graduate with her PhD focused on midwifery continuity of care.

News • 12 Dec 2023

Olivia levels up her gaming skills to forge a career  

It’s no surprise that Olivia Campbell – an avid computer gamer – has always had a knack for IT. After googling the University of Newcastle’s degree offerings, she decided to take her skills to the next level and enrol in Bachelor of Information Technology.  

News • 12 Dec 2023

Yapug opens the way for a young doctor in the making

A proud Wiradjuri man from Singleton on Wonnarua Country, Scott left school in year 10 to start working on a horse stud farm. Finding his way to community services, Scott began to dream of studying medicine to help his community and started tertiary education.

News • 12 Dec 2023

Kat’s love of teaching inspiring students to follow in her footsteps

Katrina Miller-Little chuckles as she reflects on what she loves about being a teacher. After some contemplation, she settles on her ability to change her students’ perceptions of ‘boring’ subjects.   

News • 12 Dec 2023

University of Newcastle to celebrate power of education in its largest graduation ever

The power of education will be centre stage when more than 3,300 students from the University of Newcastle graduate at the Callaghan Campus this week in its biggest graduation ever.

News • 11 Dec 2023

2023 HMRI Researcher of the Year award winners celebrated

Professor Zsolt Balogh was named 2023 HMRI Researcher of the Year at an awards ceremony held at NEX on Friday night in front of an audience of more than 200 supporters, colleagues and community members.

News • 05 Dec 2023

University ranks 74 in the world for sustainability

The University of Newcastle’s commitment to sustainability has been placed in the spotlight today, with the university ranking 74 in the world in the QS 2024 Sustainability Rankings.

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