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 Nov 2020
ARENA funding to accelerate small wind turbine innovation
University of Newcastle-born startup company, Diffuse Energy, has secured more than $920,000 in funding contributions, including $341,990 from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to deploy its small wind turbine technology in remote locations across Australia.
News • 19 Nov 2020
University of Newcastle student internationally framed for spooky photographic series
A Newcastle student has been recognised on the international stage for a photographic series exploring the concept of death and mortality.
News • 17 Nov 2020
Trailblazers celebrated in 2020 Alumni Excellence Awards
A world-leading researcher and advocate for Indigenous health, a match-maker’ for species conservationists, a 'Power 50' in the Australian music industry and the co-host of Australia’s first all Indigenous breakfast show are among the 2020 University of Newcastle Alumni Excellence recipients.
News • 16 Nov 2020
Aboriginal ear surgeon honoured with Menzies Medallion
Australia’s first Aboriginal surgeon, the highly acclaimed ear, nose and throat surgeon, Associate Professor Kelvin Kong has been awarded the prestigious Menzies Medallion.
News • 13 Nov 2020
University of Newcastle secures over $6 million in ARC funding
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has awarded the University of Newcastle more than $6 million in competitive research funding through its Discovery Projects and Linkage Projects schemes.
News • 12 Nov 2020
Inaugural employability excellence achievers unveiled
The students, staff, businesses and community partners who inspire the University of Newcastle’s reputation for producing work-ready graduates have been recognised in the institution’s inaugural Employability Excellence Awards.
News • 12 Nov 2020
HMRI 2020 Awards celebrate medical research excellence
Medical research excellence was honoured at tonight’s annual HMRI Awards Night – HMRI 2020.
News • 10 Nov 2020
Virtual window into students’ creative minds: Festival X
A virtual gallery, live performances, short films, animation, documentaries and much more will light up the virtual world this weekend as Festival X brings together a digital celebration of student creativity.
News • 10 Nov 2020
Have a Hometown Holiday to support the Newcastle tourism industry
A new initiative aimed at boosting tourism in Newcastle will launch on Thursday.
News • 10 Nov 2020
Researchers call on Port Stephens community to help save the koala
Port Stephens community members are working with scientists to collect information to help save koalas in the region.
News • 09 Nov 2020
The values of NAIDOC shouldn’t be confined to one week only
By Associate Professor Kathleen Butler, a proud Bundjalung and Worimi woman and Head of the Wollotuka Institute of Indigenous Research and Education at the University of Newcastle.
News • 09 Nov 2020
Students given the creative lead to reimagine uni campuses
The University of Newcastle has today announced the winning team and installation in its recently completed Design-a-Place Marker competition.
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.