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 • 01 May 2023
Intentions alone not enough to succeed in refugee employment
Australian businesses want to employ refugees but don’t know where to start and require support, according to a new study.
News • 01 May 2023
Real-world, hands-on experience key to all students’ success
Practical and professional experience placements have been a regular feature for students studying engineering, medicine, nursing and education degrees for many years, and today the University of Newcastle has announced that from 2023 onwards all undergraduate programs will include a placement embedded in a workplace.
News • 26 Apr 2023
First patient on trial in colorectal, gastric and ovarian cancer study
Newcastle biotechnology company ImmVirX Pty Limited has treated the first cancer patient in the clinical trial of its bio-selected oncolytic virus, IVX037.
News • 14 Apr 2023
Unique partnership pushes for behavioural change by increasing nutrition knowledge
The University of Newcastle and Rijk Zwaan Australia’s free online Culinary Nutrition course is empowering people to improve their eating patterns by increasing understanding of the science behind healthy eating.
News • 12 Apr 2023
Ourimbah graduates ready to make their mark
When Matthew Craig crosses the stage during the University of Newcastle’s Ourimbah graduation ceremony this week, he will do so knowing he is graduating ready to make a difference in the lives of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the Central Coast.
News • 04 Apr 2023
Maths with Mariners: the event inspiring kids to kick their learning goals
Central Coast Mariners have teamed up with the University of Newcastle to kick off an event set to inspire Central Coast high school students to engage with mathematics.
News • 29 Mar 2023
Discovery key to reducing leukaemia treatment resistance
In a world first, Newcastle researchers have discovered the mechanisms acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells use to produce ‘free radicals’ – the byproduct of a cell process that aggressively fuels the growth of cancer cells and limits the effectiveness of current treatments.
News • 27 Mar 2023
New initiative set to boost Newcastle's global reputation as a preferred destination to study
More than 1,200 newly arrived international students and their families were officially welcomed to the city by the Lord Mayor today and equipped with resources, services and programs to orientate them with everything Newcastle has to offer.
News • 22 Mar 2023
The University of Newcastle becomes first Australian University to achieve two Cygnet Awards
The University of Newcastle has become the first University in Australia to be awarded two Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Cygnet Awards, recognising its work to support academic and professional women.
News • 20 Mar 2023
Chancellor Jeans to retire after decade of high distinction
The University of Newcastle Chancellor, Mr Paul Jeans, has announced he will retire at the end of the year, following more than ten years in the prestigious post.
News • 16 Mar 2023
Groundbreaking new research and a scientific career sparked by a High School teacher
New research by ‘ARC Centre of Excellence–Minerals’ researcher Josh Starrett maps a path to more-sustainable minerals processing by evidencing energy savings and waste reductions made possible by using Australian technology the REFLUX™ Classifier (RC).
News • 15 Mar 2023
Personalised care at the heart of significant funding boost
More than $17.6 million has been awarded to Newcastle researchers working to better support patients and their carers in the latest Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) round administered by the Australian Government.
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.