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 • 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.
News • 04 Dec 2023
Hunter medical students earn while they learn
An Australian-first initiative to boost healthcare staff and provide medical students with invaluable paid experience is now underway in Hunter New England Local Health District, thanks to a new partnership with the University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW.
News • 04 Dec 2023
Construction set to begin on the University of Newcastle’s new Central Coast Campus
Work on the University of Newcastle’s new $63.8 million Central Coast Campus at 305 Mann Street in Gosford CBD is set to begin following the launch of the project’s construction phase today.
News • 30 Nov 2023
New research reveals encouraging step for Hunter renewal
New research has revealed that the majority of Hunter residents support the need for the region to transition to new sources of employment, a finding buffeted by the strong showings for the region in key social areas such as resilience and community.
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.