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
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News • 15 Sep 2020
Indigenous medical students admitted through innovative program
Having helped train more than 100 Indigenous doctors, the University of Newcastle’s Thurru Indigenous Health Unit is recruiting for its next intake of aspiring doctors.
News • 06 Sep 2020
Encouragement for dads from their unborn child
From this Fathers’ Day, 30,000 NSW fathers will get the chance to have messages from their new baby even if it’s before the birth. Researchers from the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) have created a digital platform to deliver advice and guidance directly to new
News • 04 Sep 2020
Taking conservation to the community through art
An exciting new event is taking the science of conservation out of the lab and into the community, using the power of art.
News • 04 Sep 2020
New green hydrogen made from solar power and air
In a remarkable first, a system that combines solar energy with water harvested from air has been used to manufacture low cost green hydrogen – a zero-emissions fuel.
News • 04 Sep 2020
University of Newcastle signs MoU with international pathway provider Kaplan Higher Education Pty Limited
The University of Newcastle has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kaplan Higher Education Pty Limited to provide pathways …
News • 03 Sep 2020
Nature’s tiny particles hold the key to a cleaner environment
Scientists have used tiny structures found in clay as a ‘template’ to create a remarkable new material capable of capturing carbon dioxide emissions or decontaminating water.
News • 03 Sep 2020
Funding gives pulse to research aiming to improve region’s heart health
Each year in the Hunter New England region more than 900 people experience their first heart attack, placing the region within NSW’s highest cardiovascular disease mortality band.
News • 02 Sep 2020
An intriguing donation allowing students to preserve an important piece of history
A collection of intriguing fraternal society memorabilia – the largest of its kind in Australia – has been donated to the University of Newcastle, shedding a unique light on history dating back to 1829.
News • 01 Sep 2020
Public organisations that manage complaints well reap the rewards, new research finds
For the first time, public sector organisations can now measure the social returns on complaint handling, revealing the holistic value of effective customer care.
News • 28 Aug 2020
Transformative early entry into Law supports people from a refugee background
As a driving force for equity in higher education, the University of Newcastle has launched Australia’s first scheme to offer people from a refugee background the opportunity to gain early entry to study Law.
News • 27 Aug 2020
University lecturer’s film to premier at international Film Festival
Shot in some of the world’s most beautiful bookstores on location in France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, The Netherlands, Germany, Romania, Hungary and Australia, a new feature film by the University of Newcastle’s Dr Stuart McBratney, Don’t Read This on a Plane, will premiere at the Dances with Films
News • 26 Aug 2020
Silver lining for COVID-19 affected HSC students
In a year that delivered sudden and dramatic disruption for students at all levels, local year 12 and University of Newcastle students have found a silver lining, participating in a clever initiative aimed at reversing COVID-19 chaos.
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.