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 • 12 Apr 2024
World-first platform to help understand how bushfire smoke harms the lungs and heart
A research team has developed a world-first platform to define the impact of exposure to landscape fire smoke on the heart and lungs.
News • 11 Apr 2024
Paving the way in global hydrogen ammonia safety research
Recognised as a world leader in hydrogen ammonia safety, Laureate Professor Behdad Moghtaderi and his team at the Centre for Innovative Energy Technologies will partner with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) on a project to help quantify and mitigate risk from large-scale hydrogen ammonia storage in Singapore.
News • 10 Apr 2024
Solving our region’s greatest challenges at a world-class level
University of Newcastle secures top spots in global rankings
News • 04 Apr 2024
Foundation to fund research into secondary stroke prevention
Clinical researchers from John Hunter Hospital, Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of Newcastle will launch a study into the cardiac causes of stroke thanks to $268,176 in funding from the Greater Charitable Foundation.
News • 03 Apr 2024
Popular holistic health approach delivers limited benefits
A new study has revealed a popular, holistic approach to managing an individual’s relationship with food and dieting has one clear benefit – reducing hunger. The Health at Every Size (HAES®) practice concentrates on intuitive eating behaviours, without focusing on changes in body weight or size.
News • 02 Apr 2024
Associate Professor Rachel Sutherland celebrated in NHMRC 10 of the best
Translational researcher Associate Professor Rachel Sutherland has been recognised in the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) 10 of the Best list for 2024.
News • 25 Mar 2024
New research investigates the genetics of circulating vitamin A
A Newcastle research team has been exploring the role of vitamin A in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders.
News • 22 Mar 2024
University community to officially welcome Chancellor Forsythe
About 500 students, staff and community members will gather in the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall today to officially welcome the institution’s eighth chancellor, the Honourable Patricia Forsythe AM.
News • 19 Mar 2024
Newcastle expertise attracts $7.5m Australian Government grant to help boost Pacific region’s health
A University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Local Health District partnership working to strengthen field epidemiology capacity, disease surveillance and outbreak response in the Pacific for the past 10 years has been awarded $7.5m in Australian Government funding to continue their important work supporting public health training programs in the region.
News • 11 Mar 2024
Researchers’ pioneering helicopter retrieval service saving women’s lives in Nepal
A pioneering helicopter retrieval program, developed by HMRI and University of Newcastle researchers to help women in Nepal experiencing obstetric distress, has led to a 40 per cent reduction in maternal death.
News • 06 Mar 2024
Great minds tackle brain cancer puzzle at International Summit
Brilliant leaders, experts, and innovators from around the world have united to help solve the brain cancer puzzle at the inaugural International Brain Tumour Research Summit - Australia in Melbourne.
News • 06 Mar 2024
ARC Fellowships advance human rights research and ‘greener’ belt conveyor technology
The University of Newcastle’s Associate Professor Amy Maguire and Professor Craig Wheeler have been awarded prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Mid-Career Industry Fellowships. More than $2.2m combined will fund their respective projects to support national human rights law reform; and to halve the energy used in Australia’s belt conveyer systems.
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.