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 • 02 Dec 2020
Major milestone for Honeysuckle campus as sustainable build “tops out”
The University of Newcastle’s first stage of its Honeysuckle City campus hit a major milestone today with the Stage 1A building ‘topping out’ and on track to be the first 6-star Green Star building for sustainable development in regional NSW.
News • 01 Dec 2020
Online showcase: Engineering and computing students debut innovative projects
From a soft robot manta ray designed to explore the Great Barrier Reef without harming coral; to a prosthetic arm controlled by the mind; and a contender for the world’s fastest boat – The Art of Problem Solving 2020 exhibition showcases an impressive spread of engineering and computing projects fro
News • 01 Dec 2020
BMG and University of Newcastle to launch Australian-first Indigenous scholarship program to inspire a new generation of music executives
Global music company BMG has expanded on its successful partnership with the University of Newcastle’s School of Creative Industries in the Faculty of Education and Arts to launch its first round of Indigenous scholarships, creating more pathways to employment for the next generation of students.
News • 30 Nov 2020
International recognition for University’s green initiatives
The University of Newcastle has been awarded three of the eight 2020 Australasian ‘Green Gown Awards’ in the categories of Climate Action, Benefiting Society and Student Engagement.
News • 26 Nov 2020
University of Newcastle and ARTC on track to boost STEM participation in regional communities
More than 7500 high school students in regional areas are set to benefit from a unique STEM partnership announced today between the Inland Rail Skills Academy and the University of Newcastle.
News • 25 Nov 2020
Family and friends online support program expands to cover all addictions
An online intervention and e-health program to help families and friends supporting loved ones who use crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) has expanded to cover any type of substance addiction, including alcohol.
News • 23 Nov 2020
Four Newcastle researchers selected for funding boost
University of Newcastle researchers have received more than $1.6m in grants from the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Early Career Researcher …
News • 23 Nov 2020
New study: How risk perception affects our behaviour in a pandemic
A new study, released in Scientific Reports in Nature, found behavioural responses to pandemics are more shaped by perceived risk than actual mortality or hospitalisation risk.
News • 23 Nov 2020
University of Newcastle signs agreement with Kaplan Higher Education to develop international pathway college
The University of Newcastle has signed an agreement with Kaplan Higher Education to develop an international pathway college set to prepare new cohorts of international students from 2021.
News • 20 Nov 2020
COVID-19 face shield team wins AFR Higher Education Award
The University of Newcastle‘s ‘COVID-19 equipment shortage’ team has won a national higher education award for its remarkable contribution to the Australian community.
News • 20 Nov 2020
EVENT: Newcastle turns orange to challenge violence against women
Civic Park and the University of Newcastle’s NUspace building will light up orange on 25 November as Novocastrians join the international community to confront violence against women in our communities.
News • 20 Nov 2020
New scholarship aims to remove barriers facing Indigenous researchers
To help address some of the barriers facing Indigenous researchers, the University of Newcastle has launched a new scholarship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD candidates.
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.