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 • 30 Nov 2023
Republic of Korea collaboration: Universities combine with Port of Newcastle on green ammonia research centre
The University of Newcastle and Port of Newcastle have today signed a tripartite agreement with Pusan National University in the Republic of Korea that will see the development of a collaborative research centre for green ammonia power generation.
News • 28 Nov 2023
Great Hall celebrates 50 years of cheering graduates across the stage
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall, which was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden Cutler on 28 November 1973.
News • 23 Nov 2023
$9.3m awarded to Newcastle health research projects aiming to improve lives
Using facial recognition to transform genetic diagnosis of children with intellectual disability and a community-led breastfeeding support program for Indigenous families are among five Hunter research projects awarded more than $9.3m in Australian government health and medical funding.
News • 20 Nov 2023
Wollotuka Institute celebrates 40 years
The University of Newcastle and our broader communities are proud to mark the 40th anniversary of the esteemed Wollotuka Institute.
News • 17 Nov 2023
Making IBS medicine with artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is supporting researchers with important exploration into new therapies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and ulcerative colitis, made possible by a $98,700 grant from Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.
News • 15 Nov 2023
University of Newcastle joins Uniseed venture fund to invest in future of Australian innovation
The University of Newcastle has signed on as an official partner of Uniseed - Australia's longest running venture fund dedicated to helping university researchers turn their ideas into products and services that deliver impact for our communities.
News • 13 Nov 2023
Seven teams secure $3.7m in ARC Discovery Project grants
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has awarded $3.7m in Discovery Project grants to seven University of Newcastle research teams.
News • 09 Nov 2023
The University of Newcastle recognises students, staff and industry partners at Employability Excellence Awards
University of Newcastle student Viv Jayachandran was last night awarded Student Entrepreneur of the Year at the University’s Employability Excellence Awards for his achievements establishing his software business, Jaegersoft.
News • 01 Nov 2023
New interactive report shows financial vulnerability hotspots across Australia
In the face of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, a new interactive report reveals locations experiencing hardship and financial vulnerability across Australia.
News • 01 Nov 2023
University of Newcastle award contract for new Central Coast Campus to Hansen Yuncken
University of Newcastle award contract for new Central Coast Campus to Hansen Yuncken
News • 30 Oct 2023
University of Newcastle science subjects on the rise in global rankings
The University of Newcastle’s science programs have ranked as some of the best in the world, moving up in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Subject Rankings.
News • 30 Oct 2023
University of Newcastle recognised as national leader in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff
The University of Newcastle’s commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff has been officially recognised, with the University being named the first university in Australia to receive a ‘Cygnet Award’ for Indigenous Cultural Competency.
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.