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 • 20 Oct 2023
University sector: now and future of higher education in Australia
Thousands of high school students in our region are now well into their HSC exams - an important milestone in the lives of Year 12 students.
News • 20 Oct 2023
A Tale of Two Cities: Hunter and Illawarra regions collaborate to unlock innovation to drive change
University of Newcastle and the University of Wollongong (UOW) partnered with Business Illawarra and Business Hunter today to bring together more than 80 key government and industry stakeholders to discuss the best approach to drive economic and social change through innovation.
News • 16 Oct 2023
The best team player: robot or human?
Do teams perform better when working collaboratively or competitively? How does a human perform when working alongside AI?
News • 12 Oct 2023
University of Newcastle 2023 Alumni Award recipients announced
Recipients of the 2023 University of Newcastle Alumni Excellence Awards were recognised at the annual celebration last night to celebrate their accomplishments in exceptional leadership, innovation, and outstanding community contributions.
News • 11 Oct 2023
Professor Anna Giacomini elected as an ATSE Fellow
Australia’s leading expert on rockfall mechanics and protection design, Professor Anna Giacomini, is among the distinguished cohort of Fellows elected to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) this year.
News • 09 Oct 2023
New analysis: housing need significantly underestimated
Analysis released by the University of Newcastle’s Institute for Regional Futures into the national housing shortage shows that the projected supply of housing needed in Australia’s cities and regions falls significantly short of demand.
News • 05 Oct 2023
Life-changing university scholarships opening doors for students in need
Applications are now open for the Greater Charitable Foundation Equity Scholarship program, which is clearing the path to higher education for students wishing to study at the University of Newcastle.
News • 04 Oct 2023
University of Newcastle appoints the Honourable Patricia Forsythe AM as Chancellor
The University of Newcastle is pleased to announce the appointment of the Hon Patricia Forsythe AM as its next Chancellor. She will succeed the University’s current Chancellor Mr. Paul Jeans, who is retiring at the end of 2023 after over 10 years in the role.
News • 03 Oct 2023
Virtual reality training to improve emergency stroke nursing care
Emergency department nurses across NSW will gain valuable real-time experience in stroke care thanks to a new virtual reality (VR) training program developed by the Centre for Advanced Training Systems at the University of Newcastle.
News • 22 Sep 2023
Hundreds of female students empowered to kick learning goals
Still buzzing from seeing their newfound heroes, the Matildas, achieve amazing World Cup success, a group of 200 female students hit the field at Industree Stadium, Gosford to participate in Maths with Mariners.
News • 21 Sep 2023
University and industry collaboration: ResTech officially opened by Minister Hon Ed Husic MP
The Honourable Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry and Science, today visited the University of Newcastle to officially open the new ResTech facility.
News • 21 Sep 2023
Gen Z and Business Transformation on the Agenda as 250 turn out for University’s Industry Open Day
Working with Gen Z, using research to drive economic and social impact and industry transformation in the Hunter were key topics up for discussion as more than 250 local industry leaders gathered today for the University of Newcastle’s first Industry Open Day.
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.