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 • 14 Oct 2020
Funding for better outcomes for elderly after hip surgery
With hip fracture posing a major risk of death in people over 50, a new study aims to establish evidence for improved discharge planning for elderly patients following hip surgery.
News • 13 Oct 2020
Quality Teaching Academy launched
Teachers across Australia will have access to high-quality professional development and a suite of evidence-based resources with the launch of the Quality Teaching Academy today.
News • 13 Oct 2020
Rainbow pedestrian crossing signifies University’s commitment to diversity
The University of Newcastle believes in a “show don’t tell” principle in our commitments to community and equity. That’s why, as part of the University of Newcastle’s Pride Week 2020, a permanent rainbow-coloured pedestrian crossing will today be unveiled on the Callaghan campus in front of the Chan
News • 13 Oct 2020
Lessons Learnt: Special Issue report filters global best practices on COVID-19 response
A panel of experts have ‘filtered’ the most compelling policy and technology responses to COVID-19 worldwide, as governments continue to grapple with the devastating impacts of the pandemic.
News • 12 Oct 2020
Students offer remote service to improve our diet
Students of the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics program at the University of Newcastle are inviting people to video call or ‘Zoom’ in to a Telehealth clinic for advice on their diet.
News • 12 Oct 2020
Global discussion on the future of healthcare systems amid COVID-19
There is no doubt COVID-19 has burdened healthcare systems across the world but what can be learnt from this?
News • 08 Oct 2020
Asthma treatment – it’s not one-size-fits-all
With at least one asthma-related death each day in Australia, a team of researchers has been awarded $2.5 million dollars from NHMRC to investigate personalised approaches to asthma treatment.
News • 08 Oct 2020
Students band together to architect a future for koalas
A group of more than 20 University of Newcastle Architecture students have contributed their design skills to a project aimed at helping the endangered koala species.
News • 01 Oct 2020
Our researchers recognised in The Australian’s Research 2020 magazine
The Australian's Research 2020 magazine paid tribute to several University of Newcastle researchers for their track record of excellence and contribution to their fields.
News • 25 Sep 2020
University of Newcastle course changes signalled
Today the University of Newcastle released details about the interim outcomes of its ‘Course Optimisation’ review of course structures.
News • 24 Sep 2020
Learning from home has new meaning
In these unusual times, it seems hard to imagine overseas travel being a possibility. Perhaps, you could cast your mind back to a time where travelling to foreign countries was a reality and being in unfamiliar places, wasn’t so unfamiliar.
News • 22 Sep 2020
New outlook model indicates average to above average tropical cyclone activity and risk for Australia
With a 94% chance that La Niña conditions will develop before the start of the tropical cyclone season - in Australia there are typically more cyclones during La Niña - a new outlook model is predicting average to above average tropical cyclone numbers for Australia this season (November 2020 – Apr
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.