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 • 11 Jan 2023
NSW and ACT universities take sector leading steps to strengthen early offer admissions
The New South Wales Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NSWVCC), the peak body for universities in NSW and the ACT, has initiated a sector-leading approach to introduce a new set of underlying principles for early offer admissions in 2024.
News • 15 Dec 2022
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard honoured at graduation
The Honourable Julia Gillard, AC, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters honoris causa by the University of Newcastle, in acknowledgement of her exceptionally distinguished service to Australian society.
News • 15 Dec 2022
Spinal cord pain to PTSD: $5.2m in NHMRC grants to target pressing medical conditions
Both the body and the mind will be a key focus for innovative researchers from the University of Newcastle, who were successful in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants.
News • 12 Dec 2022
Ready to make a difference: University of Newcastle 2022 graduates
The first cohort of students to graduate from the Bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering will make history this week as they cross the stage during the University of Newcastle’s graduation ceremonies.
News • 12 Dec 2022
Paid leave for school carnivals, sick pets, weddings and life admin on list of benefits offered by University
Staff at the University of Newcastle will be able to take up to ten days a year of paid leave to care for pets, go to school concerts, manage their life admin and attend weddings and other ceremonies, under the Enterprise Agreements being voted on this week.
News • 02 Dec 2022
Protecting coral reefs and extreme weather on earth and in space: $4.8m in ARC funding
Our environment and how we protect it will be a key focus for innovative researchers from the University of Newcastle, who were successful in the latest round of funding in from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects Scheme.
News • 01 Dec 2022
Asthma in pregnancy toolkit rolls out to help stop flare-ups
A world first Asthma and Pregnancy Toolkit designed to improve the health of pregnant women and their babies will be rolled out across the ACT.
News • 01 Dec 2022
Schools improve overall wellbeing with an inexpensive program that gets kids moving
Many young people’s mental health declined during the pandemic. Changing school culture to increase children’s physical activity at school helps to reverse this trend, researchers have found.
News • 01 Dec 2022
Researcher identifies 6,000 sperm proteins, potentially leading to a male contraceptive
A researcher has for the first time profiled 6,000 sperm proteins that could help create a non-hormonal male contraceptive - while also building on key research linking sperm health to overall men’s health.
News • 28 Nov 2022
Enterprise Bargaining Update 28 November 2022
The University of Newcastle has today tabled a revised offer to unions and staff representatives as it moves to finalise enterprise bargaining ahead of Christmas.
News • 28 Nov 2022
Quality Teaching Rounds recognised for Research Impact
The University of Newcastle's Teachers and Teaching Research Centre has won the prestigious Engagement Australia 2022 Excellence Award for Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact.
News • 28 Nov 2022
Shipping exposure impacts marine parks and marine giants
Shipping exposure within marine parks is likely causing long-term effects to Australian marine ecosystems and its marine life, researchers have discovered.
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.