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 • 06 Mar 2024
New ambassador program welcomes international students to Newcastle with open arms
A new International Student Ambassador initiative launched today in Newcastle aims to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging for all international students living and studying in the Hunter.
News • 06 Mar 2024
Inaugural Showcase debuts cutting-edge solar and hydrogen technologies
More than 200 industry, government officials, researchers, start-ups and university staff came together yesterday to celebrate the achievements of the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy program in its first year, namely establishing $117M in industry co-funded R&D projects focused on bringing disruptive technologies to market.
News • 28 Feb 2024
Pain-free diabetes test wins Shaping Australia Award
A revolutionary biosensor poised to change the treatment of diabetes forever, has been crowned winner of the prestigious Shaping Australia ‘Problem Solver’ Award.
News • 28 Feb 2024
City of Newcastle and University Expands Region’s Art and Culture Commitment
City of Newcastle and the University of Newcastle have today announced a new cultural partnership that will see the two organisations working together to expand the region's art capabilities.
News • 27 Feb 2024
National University Teaching Awards celebrate outstanding educators at the University of Newcastle
Five University of Newcastle academics have been honoured with the prestigious Australian Awards for University Teaching.
News • 26 Feb 2024
University behind Australia’s largest, oldest and most successful enabling program welcomes Accord
The University of Newcastle has welcomed the Australian Universities Accord final report and stands ready to work with government on implementation.
News • 23 Feb 2024
Academic Excellence Scholarships Recognising Outstanding Performance
The 2024 University of Newcastle Academic Excellence Scholarships have been awarded. These scholarships recognise the outstanding performance of domestic and international students. Click here to view the recipients!
News • 22 Feb 2024
Happier in the Hunter: promising findings for young people
Despite the challenges that young people in regional areas face, new data reveals Hunter youth are happier than their peers in capital cities.
News • 21 Feb 2024
‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ operating in the red
Parents offering their children a leg-up on the property ladder are at increased risk of financial elder abuse, a new study finds.
News • 20 Feb 2024
$10.6m MRFF funding boosts researchers’ mission to improve Australia’s health
Seven University of Newcastle teams have secured more than $10.6m in Australian government funding to help solve some of the nation’s most pressing health issues.
News • 20 Feb 2024
Nursing and teaching degrees popular as University of Newcastle’s Welcome Week activities commence
Almost 10,000 new students will start their university journey this week as they join in the University of Newcastle’s Welcome Week activities.
News • 13 Feb 2024
Central Coast Living Lab promotes healthy ageing at home
A collaborative workshop has marked the launch of the first Central Coast Health & Wellbeing Living Lab – an innovative, real-life experimentation hub designed to support healthy ageing at home for generations to come.
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.