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 Sep 2023

University Places Spotlight on Placements

Nominations for the Employability Excellence Awards close on Friday 15 September

News • 11 Sep 2023

Delprat Cottage landscape remediation project lands prestigious Good Design Award

In recognition for outstanding design and innovation, the Delprat Cottage and Gardens has been awarded a Good Design Award Gold Winner Accolade in the Architectural Design category at the 2023 Australian Good Design Awards.

News • 07 Sep 2023

566 people get behind University’s Gifting Day

Seven initiatives are set to receive vital funds, with the University of Newcastle’s Gifting Day raising more than $230,000 through the support of 566 donors and ambassadors.

News • 07 Sep 2023

Students receive Early Entry offers and extra support ahead of HSC exams

Almost 8,000 high school students will today receive an offer to study at the University of Newcastle as part of the first round of offers for the institution’s new Early Entry program.

News • 31 Aug 2023

Digital innovation launched to ‘eclipse’ rising tide of mental health and substance use problems

Much like the rest of the world, Australia is facing a mental health care crisis. COVID-19 has contributed more than a 25 per cent increase in new cases of depression and anxiety, with the impact on alcohol and other substance use still being understood.

News • 28 Aug 2023

University of Newcastle’s new, high-tech campus on the Central Coast given green light

The NSW Government has formally approved the $58 million University of Newcastle Central Coast Campus, which will be built on the site of the former Mitre 10 building at 305 Mann Street, Gosford.

News • 28 Aug 2023

Wantok Pasifika: Celebrating real impact in our region

The University of Newcastle’s Pacific students were in the spotlight at this year’s Wantok Pasifika event as they demonstrated how their work is having real world impact in Pacific communities.

News • 24 Aug 2023

Innovative research pitches win quick-fire University of Newcastle Three Minute Thesis and Visualise Your Thesis contest

Chloe Wilkins and Madeleine Gale took out the top prizes in the University of Newcastle’s Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) and inaugural Visualise Your Thesis (VYT) competitions, with the respective champions announced at this week’s competition finals.

News • 23 Aug 2023

Thousands of people to get a taste of university life with robot soccer, Virtual Reality learning, mock court, and race cars at Newcastle Open Day

Thousands of prospective students, their families and friends are set to get their first taste of university life at the University of Newcastle’s annual Newcastle Open Day on Saturday 26 August.

News • 10 Aug 2023

Koala conservation heats up: drones used to thermally detect animals

Conservation scientists from the University of Newcastle are using heat-detecting drones to capture data on koala populations in Port Stephens LGA.

News • 10 Aug 2023

University of Newcastle introduces Graduate Diploma to fast track path to high school teaching

The University of Newcastle has launched a new Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) to help provide a much-needed solution to the state’s teacher shortage. The graduate diploma provides a 12-month program for people who are looking to transition their careers and fast track their studies to become a high school teacher.

News • 07 Aug 2023

Innovative ‘Living Laboratory’ sees students solve real problems at Newcastle Airport

An innovative partnership between Newcastle Airport and the University of Newcastle has seen students working in a ‘living laboratory’ at the Airport on ways to solve problems with the baggage handling system and better service the growing number of passengers.

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