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 • 05 Nov 2020
Uni backs promising ideas to buzz off mozzies
From a deodorant that repels mosquitoes to engineering a trap that disrupts mosquito breeding, nine innovative projects were awarded and have shared $45,000 in funding in the University of Newcastle’s 2020 Grand Challenge.
News • 04 Nov 2020
Launch event: Older Persons Legal Clinic
A free legal clinic to support some of the most vulnerable people in our society – older people – will officially launch at an event on Thursday with the NSW Attorney General, The Hon. Mark Speakman SC MP.
News • 04 Nov 2020
Global recognition for Newcastle climate scientist
University of Newcastle climate scientist Dr Andrew Magee has become the first Asia Pacific representative to be named a finalist in the history of the Allianz Climate Risk Research Award. The global award supports scientific research that improves our understanding of climate change-related risks.
News • 04 Nov 2020
University hosts the Turnbulls with a clean and clear vision
Taking the opportunity to showcase our capability as an innovator in next generation resources, the University of Newcastle was delighted to host the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull and Ms Lucy Turnbull at its Callaghan campus this week (Tuesday 3 November).
News • 03 Nov 2020
THE 2021 Subject Rankings
The University of Newcastle has strongly performed in THE 2021 Subject Rankings, rising in six of the eleven subject areas.
News • 02 Nov 2020
New treatment idea discovered for leukaemia
Newcastle researchers have discovered a new way to kill leukaemia cells.
News • 27 Oct 2020
Australian and Indonesian universities launch innovative two-degree program in Jakarta
The University of Newcastle, Binus University and Nurture Higher Education (UK) have partnered to offer a unique joint teaching program for Indonesian students.
News • 26 Oct 2020
OPINION: We need a new approach to better respond to rural adversity
For rural people it feels as though life consists of one adverse event after another with no let-up or breathing space before the next catastrophe strikes.
News • 23 Oct 2020
$8.5m to continue largest women's health study
Australia’s largest and longest operating women’s health survey has secured $8.5m in funding.
News • 22 Oct 2020
Am I a fraud? Imposter feelings in elite Olympic level coaching
How do gender stereotypes create imposter feelings that halt the progression of women to elite coaching roles?
News • 20 Oct 2020
New preparation program gives students a hand-UPP
Domestic students transitioning into their undergraduate degree in 2021 will have access to free personalised learning support thanks to an initiative at the University of Newcastle.
News • 16 Oct 2020
Researchers named AMP Tomorrow Makers
Two Newcastle researchers have made the 2021 AMP Tomorrow Makers list, earning grants to support their research in men’s health programs and bowel cancer.
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.