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 • 19 Apr 2021
Flu tracking system captures COVID-19 impact
One of the largest crowd-sourced public health surveillance systems in the world, known for detecting the spread of influenza, has revealed the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted the 2020 flu season.
News • 14 Apr 2021
Former Australian Prime Ministers celebrated at graduation
Two former Australian Prime Ministers were recognised for their contributions to the nation, in particular the higher education sector, by the University of Newcastle today.
News • 09 Apr 2021
Scene set for Great Hall graduation celebrations
More than 1550 graduates will relish the opportunity to celebrate their study achievements when they graduate in the University of Newcastle’s Great Hall from today.
News • 07 Apr 2021
Green hydrogen demonstration drives zero emission future
A state-of-the-art green hydrogen fuel, developed in partnership between the University of Newcastle and Southern Green Gas has today been unveiled and demonstrated in Hyundai’s NEXO hydrogen fuel cell SUV.
News • 31 Mar 2021
Food and Agribusiness Doctoral Training Centre established on the Central Coast
The University of Newcastle has today opened its newest Doctoral Training Centre (DTC), the Food and Agribusiness DTC, at Ourimbah.
News • 30 Mar 2021
Final phase of organisational change presented to staff for feedback
The University of Newcastle released the final phase of its organisational change program today. The Schools change proposals follow on from earlier changes to the University’s College structure, and recent proposed changes to the organisation’s Divisions.
News • 26 Mar 2021
Environmentally sustainable ARC projects awarded almost $2 million in funding
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced its latest round of funding for Linkage Project grants, with three University of Newcastle projects attracting funding totalling $1,868,005.
News • 25 Mar 2021
‘Sneaky’ sperm particles hitchhike around the body
A world-first discovery of ‘sneaky’ sperm particles found outside their ‘home’ in the testes offers new hope for men with fertility issues and new insight for cancer researchers.
News • 25 Mar 2021
Patients should get COVID-19 vaccine before surgery to reduce death risk: study
An international research study has found that surgery dramatically increases the risk of death from COVID-19, recommending that all non-emergency surgery patients be vaccinated while awaiting procedures.
News • 18 Mar 2021
Framework launched in commitment to Indigenous education and research
The University of Newcastle has unveiled a major piece in its longstanding commitment to Indigenous higher education, innovation and engagement with the launch of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Research Framework, coinciding with national Close the Gap Day.
News • 17 Mar 2021
Research shows possible link between number of fast-food outlets and heart attacks
Researchers from the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Health (HNE Health) have found that for each new fast-food outlet the number of heart attacks per 100,000 people went up by four.
News • 15 Mar 2021
Indigenous research trailblazer honoured with lecture series
Esteemed historian and Indigenous research trailblazer, University of Newcastle Emeritus Professor John Maynard has been honoured with a new lecture series in his name.
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.