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 • 21 May 2020

University partners with nib to support students’ health and wellbeing

Hundreds of University of Newcastle international students impacted by COVID-19 have received health and hygiene care packages, generously donated by long-standing University partner – nib health funds (nib).

News • 21 May 2020

More than $10 million to support innovations in health service delivery

Six projects led by Hunter researchers have been successful in attracting a combined total of $10.6 million in the latest round of competitive National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.

News • 19 May 2020

Unique Women in STEMM scholarship program supports Early Career Researchers

In a first for an Australian university to help redress some of the systemic biases female academics face, the University of Newcastle has awarded fully-funded PhD candidate scholarships to six Women in STEMM Early Career Researchers.

News • 19 May 2020

Researchers map emerging disadvantage in Australia due to COVID-19 job loss

A new report reveals the areas that are most at risk of COVID-19 related job loss, with researchers pinpointing more than 100 locations of emerging disadvantage in Australia.

News • 12 May 2020

University expertise sees lifesaving ventilator prototype secure state backing

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of almost thirty Hunter-based alumni and staff have contributed to one of two ventilator prototype projects selected by the state government for pre-production.

News • 08 May 2020

Repurposing existing drugs to tackle ovarian cancer

Associate Professor Nikola Bowden, Professor Jennifer Martin, Dr Michelle Wong-Brown and Dr Penny Reeves from the University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute have successfully been awarded $2.69 million for their Australian Program for Drug-repurposing for Treatment-resistant O

News • 07 May 2020

Hearty success in NSW Medical Research Cardiovascular grants

Heart disease kills one person every 12 minutes in Australia, and is still the leading cause of death globally. Despite enormous improvements in health outcomes over the years, heart disease is still one of the biggest health burdens on our economy.

News • 05 May 2020

Building the recovery workforce through short courses

The University of Newcastle has unveiled a suite of short courses to give displaced workers a chance to upskill or reskill and help build a thriving workforce in the post COVID-19 recovery phase.

News • 04 May 2020

A sustainable future in health: ensuring as health professionals our own house is in order and leading by example

It is time for health professionals to step up and lead to ensure a sustainable environment and health, according to …

News • 16 Apr 2020

Drug repurposing potential for COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for anti-viral therapies to treat respiratory virus infections. With a vaccine at least 12 months away, drug repurposing offers hope in fast-tracking therapies to treat infected people and save lives.

News • 08 Apr 2020

FluTracking survey reveals social distancing is working

FluTracking, the national online surveillance system for tracking symptoms of COVID-19 and flu in Australia and New Zealand has revealed some important insights into the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

News • 30 Mar 2020

OPINION: The human cost - psychological impact of the bushfires

This summer's bushfire crisis has been unprecedented in its scale and duration. While the physical effects of the fires are tangible - images of decimated bush land, injured wildlife, and homes and livelihoods damaged or burnt to the ground – the psychological impacts can be more difficult to grasp.

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