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 • 03 May 2024
New study aims to put asthma into remission
Researchers at HMRI and the University of Newcastle have evaluated a drug called azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, to test if it would put moderate to severe asthma into remission.
News • 29 Apr 2024
Partnering to prevent local extinction of threatened marsupial
City of Newcastle (CN), the University of Newcastle and FAUNA Research Alliance have joined forces to investigate ways to protect Squirrel Gliders in the Lower Hunter.
News • 29 Apr 2024
From the Classroom to the Operating Room: Emily Mason’s Journey as an Indigenous Female Surgeon
For proud Gamilaroi woman, Emily Mason, the path to becoming one of the country’s only Indigenous traumatology specialist surgeons has …
News • 19 Apr 2024
Newcastle team on mission to improve childhood cancer outcomes
A University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute team will endeavour to improve the outcomes of children diagnosed with high-risk cancers with support of a $591,890 Cancer Australia grant.
News • 18 Apr 2024
Proving age is just a number, Arlyn wants to inspire more women in their 50s to pursue education
Ever since Arlyn Ellis was a child, it was her dream to one day become a nurse – but she never thought it was possible.
News • 18 Apr 2024
Kicking goals on and off the field, Joeli proves you can do it all
Being an elite athlete, working part time, and studying to become a teacher, Joeli Morris proves that with determination and the right support, you can do it all and get a degree at the same time.
News • 18 Apr 2024
Sky’s the limit for graduates on the Central Coast
New nurses, teachers and food scientists are among those poised to make a difference on the Central Coast and beyond, following a celebration of their study achievements at the University of Newcastle Ourimbah graduation this week.
News • 18 Apr 2024
Earth Sciences expert Professor Frisia cements global standing
Professor Silvia Frisia has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Jean Baptiste Lamarck Medal for her highly significant contribution to the field of carbonate sedimentology, applied particularly to palaeoclimate science – the study of ancient climates.
News • 18 Apr 2024
Food and nutrition degree serves Keren a rewarding career
Coming from a ‘foodie family’, Keren Peter says food has always been in her blood, so studying the Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition was a natural choice.
News • 18 Apr 2024
Shanae’s passion for caring delivers her dream to work in health
A proud Dharug woman, born and raised on Darkinjung Country on the New South Wales’ Central Coast, Shanae Godbold always knew she wanted to go into some form of medicine.
News • 12 Apr 2024
University-school partnership project seeks to lift student outcomes
Twenty-five NSW government schools in communities with the least access to socio-educational advantage will benefit from a new research partnership …
News • 12 Apr 2024
University of Newcastle Professor Appointed Chief Scientist for South Australia
The University of Newcastle has congratulated Professor Craig Simmons for his appointment to the role of Chief Scientist for South Australia.
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.