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 • 29 Jun 2022
MGA Thermal showcases pathway to reliable renewable energy as it reaches 20GWh of global storage interest
Australian clean energy company MGA Thermal today announced it has reached a milestone with customer interest for 20 GigaWatt hours (GWh) of energy storage, the equivalent of powering 1.3 million homes, from customers for its breakthrough technology.
News • 28 Jun 2022
Tertiary system can better support victims of gender-based violence
New research by the University of Newcastle has found students who are victim-survivors of gender-based violence overcome major challenges to access and fully participate in higher education – and the institution is pushing for change.
News • 26 Jun 2022
Mark Hughes Foundation and the University of Newcastle announce new $25 million Centre for Brain Cancer Research
The greatest minds that are fighting the frontline battle against brain cancer will be brought together as the new Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle, is officially announced today – Monday, June 27.
News • 17 Jun 2022
Inaugural Meg Purser Communications Scholarship awarded
A passion to make a positive impact in the community has seen second year University of Newcastle communications student Courtney Yeandle named as the inaugural recipient of the Meg Purser Scholarship.
News • 14 Jun 2022
Outstanding Australians recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
The University of Newcastle congratulates and celebrates all Australians recognised in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours, especially those belonging to the University’s esteemed community.
News • 11 Jun 2022
NSW Government announces $18M for University of Newcastle Gosford campus
The University of Newcastle has today welcomed the State Government’s commitment of $18 million for a new University campus in Mann Street, Gosford.
News • 10 Jun 2022
Bull shark ‘baby food’ under extreme threat
Ecologists have uncovered the key nutrients baby bull sharks rely on to grow and survive; alarmingly, it’s derived from an ecosystem which is under extreme threat from climate change – saltmarsh.
News • 09 Jun 2022
University of Newcastle maintains position as top 200 university in the world
University of Newcastle has affirmed its position as a world leading university, climbing a further four places to rank 192 in the world in the QS World University Rankings.
News • 03 Jun 2022
From commitment to action: The journey to a low emissions future
The University of Wollongong (UOW) and the University of Newcastle, in partnership with Business Illawarra and Business Hunter, hosted a special event on Wednesday, 1 June 2022, to discuss the role the universities are playing in making Australia a leader in clean energy.
News • 27 May 2022
Scientists and students onboard to map East coast tsunami risk
A team of marine scientists and university students are onboard to investigate the causes and consequences of the submarine landslides and deep-marine canyons along Australia's eastern edge during a five-week voyage on CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator.
News • 25 May 2022
Strong results for University of Newcastle
The University of Newcastle has signalled it will invest in student accommodation, upgrading laboratories and learning areas and revitalising campus environments following the release of its 2021 Annual Report this we
News • 19 May 2022
Why rankings are more than just a number
The University prides itself on providing world-class education to the region and we aim to create life-ready graduates. Rankings can sometimes feel like just another number however, their meaning lies much deeper.
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.