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 Nov 2022
Research innovation and translation specialist to lead Trailblazer
Professor Emmanuel Mastio joins the Australian Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy from the Future Fuels Cooperative Research Centre where he was a research commercialisation consultant and IP advisor.
News • 10 Nov 2022
Students, Staff and Industry Shine at University Employability Excellence Awards
Innovative thinkers, Google interns and local businesses going above and beyond to give students exceptional workplace experiences have all been celebrated at the University of Newcastle’s 2022 Employability Excellence Awards.
News • 08 Nov 2022
University of Newcastle receives $479,000 in funding for Women in STEM program
The University of Newcastle has welcomed $479,000 in funding as part of the Federal Government’s Women in STEM Cadetships and Advanced Apprenticeships Program.
News • 02 Nov 2022
First Look at Hunter's Health Innovation Living Lab
The early design for the Health Innovation Living Lab has been unveiled, providing the community with their first look at the Hunter’s new $2.3 million innovation ecosystem.
News • 02 Nov 2022
Collaboration key to elevating cancer care globally
The Hunter is poised to elevate the standard of cancer care around the world with the establishment of a specialised radiation oncology centre at the University of Newcastle.
News • 02 Nov 2022
Two researchers awarded 2022 NSW Premier's Prizes for Science and Engineering
Two University of Newcastle researchers have been recognised at the 2022 NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science and Engineering, presented at Government House, Sydney on Wednesday, 2 November.
News • 31 Oct 2022
University of Newcastle in Top 100 Most Sustainable Universities in the World
The University of Newcastle’s position as a leader in sustainability has been confirmed, with the university ranking 89th in the world and 12th in Australia in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2023.
News • 27 Oct 2022
City entices entrepreneurs to Newcastle
City of Newcastle (CN) is inviting entrepreneurs and professionals to set up shop for three months free of charge as part of a program to diversify and increase the local skills base.
News • 25 Oct 2022
Science and Engineering Challenge awarded United Nations Day honour
The Science and Engineering Challenge has been recognised by the United Nations Association of Australia in New South Wales with a 2022 United Nations Day Honour.
News • 20 Oct 2022
Exploring the connection between caring and women's cardiovascular health
Researchers are investigating the connection between caring duties and the cardiovascular health of female carers, specifically women who are caring for people with stroke.
News • 20 Oct 2022
New research shows global abundance of small microplastics is grossly underestimated
For the first time, researchers have examined small microplastics around the marine surface waters of the Whitsunday Islands region of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia, to ask how small is our big microplastic problem?
News • 12 Oct 2022
University of Newcastle moves up in World University Rankings
The University of Newcastle has continued to excel as a global leader for the region, moving up a band in the latest Times Higher Education World University rankings, to rank in the top 200-250 universities in the world out of almost 1,800 institutions.
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.