Local Community Outreach for Energy Efficiency

The University of Newcastle provides programs to educate the local community about the importance of energy efficiency and clean energy.

In 2024, through the Centre for Organic Electronics (COE), we continued to raise awareness about solar technology and clean energy solutions. COE is a global leader in the exciting emerging field of 'functional printing', which uses conventional printing technologies to manufacture clever, high performing, low-cost materials to help solve some of the world's greatest challenges.

The Centre for Organic Electronics is marrying the creation of clever electronic inks with well-established printing technologies to address global challenges spanning renewable energy, health & medicine, and mining safety.

Their core focus is on translating cutting edge research for real world impact. As such, they partner with business, industry and government to generate products, systems and services that benefit our global community.

The COE is multidisciplinary, with expertise spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, health, design and communications. This depth and breadth of talent and expertise enables us to successfully manage projects from end-to-end.

Research themes include:

• printed solar
• biosensors & bioelectronics
• artificial colour retina
• scanning helium microscopy (SHeM)
• medical physics

Not just a hub for innovative research, the COE is one of the only research facilities in the world capable of also manufacturing printed electronic devices at commercial scale.

The University of Newcastle's Centre for Organic Electronics (COE) Successfully Hosted Its 14th Annual Spring School in 2024

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.

In December 2024, University-made Printed Solar powered Coldplay concerts in COE partnership.

Coldplay has made significant commitments to sustainability, continuously exploring and applying new technologies to reduce their environmental impact. This partnership was another step towards achieving their ambitious sustainability goals to reduce their tour’s carbon emissions by 50%.

An array of 500 square meters (about twice the area of a tennis court) of Printed Solar was placed behind the seats behind the stage and elsewhere in the venue to collect power in battery packs. These batteries were then used to power Coldplay’s C Stage and fulfil other ancillary power needs throughout the venue.

Printed Solar uses organic photovoltaics (OPVs) which are a next-generation solar cell technology that uses organic compounds to convert sunlight into electricity. Now producing at scale with the support of the Newcastle Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Hub, located at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). Manufactured with PET plastic using roll-to-roll printing techniques and fully recycled in-house, Printed Solar is one of the lowest emission-intensive energy sources available.

Dr Ben Vaughan, Hub Manager for the ANFF, says Printed Solar has enormous potential for a variety of applications.

Members of TRaCE, NIER, COE and Kardinia Energy backstage at Accor Stadium.

The COE team in Newcastle holding up a roll of Printed Solar designed for the Coldplay concert.

News • 10 Dec 2021

University of Newcastle welcomes back first flight of international students

The University of Newcastle has welcomed international students back to campus, with a group of 19 students from 11 different countries – part of the state government’s International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan – making their way to Callaghan campus on Thursday.

News • 10 Dec 2021

Research investigates how the gut wages war on the brains of soldiers

Harnessing the unique relationship between the gut and brain, new research will interrogate Australian soldiers’ gut microbiome to optimise their cognitive and psychological performance in combat.

News • 09 Dec 2021

University welcomes incentives to boost rural, regional and remote health services

The University of Newcastle has welcomed today’s Federal Government announcement of HECS-HELP debt refund as an incentive for healthcare workers to work in rural, remote and regional communities.

News • 07 Dec 2021

NUmates wins Excellence in Student Engagement award

The University's NUmates program has been recognised for their amazing work, taking out the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) Award for Excellence in Student Engagement at the tenth annual Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) awards.

News • 07 Dec 2021

New Colombo Scholars to help strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific

Four exceptional University of Newcastle students are ready to spread their wings abroad in 2022 after being named New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholars through the most prestigious undergraduate scholarship in the country.

News • 03 Dec 2021

New understanding of sperm offers chance to lift male fertility rates

Research at the University of Newcastle has uncovered previously misunderstood effects that sperm RNA has on an embryo – a development that has the potential to change male fertility treatment and fundamentally shift our understanding of the human reproduction process.

News • 30 Nov 2021

Australian research collaboration to deliver a step change for industry at the coming Western Sydney airport

The NUW Alliance – a grouping of four leading Australian universities, alongside partner, the University of Technology Sydney – will today launch its vision for a research collaboration to be centred on the Western Sydney Aerotropolis at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility.

News • 25 Nov 2021

NUspace and Civic Park light up orange to start 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women

The University of Newcastle’s NUspace building and Civic Park will light up in orange this Thursday to mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women.

News • 22 Nov 2021

Screaming for attention: Surprise discovery of two new – and very loud – frog species

Scientists from the University of Newcastle, Australian Museum, South Australian Museum and Queensland National Parks and Wildlife have found and described two new, very loud, frog species from eastern Australia.

News • 19 Nov 2021

Tax clinic established at Newcastle Business School to assist the disadvantaged and vulnerable

Disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the Hunter will have access to free tax advice and assistance following today’s announcement by Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar that Newcastle Business School has been awarded $300,000 under the expansion of the National Tax Clinic.

News • 18 Nov 2021

Power of partnerships celebrated in 2021 Employability Excellence Awards

Entrepreneurialism, excellence and the power of partnerships are being celebrated as part of the University of Newcastle’s 2021 Employability Excellence Awards.

News • 17 Nov 2021

University secures 7th Heart Foundation grant

Professor Aaron Sverdlov is the 7th University of Newcastle researcher to benefit from the 2021 Heart Foundation funding program.

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