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 • 04 Aug 2020
Study links teacher development program to increase in student achievement
As schools continue to grapple with major upheaval, a new study reveals that teacher professional development initiative, Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR), dramatically accelerates student learning outcomes, potentially reversing disruption caused by COVID-19.
News • 30 Jul 2020
Local Engineering graduate lands an Ivy League spot
A University of Newcastle Electrical Engineering graduate, Sam Parker, has been accepted to Brown University – a prestigious Ivy League research university in the United States.
News • 29 Jul 2020
University of Newcastle joins back of jersey
The Newcastle Knights are pleased to announce the University of Newcastle will take top position on the back of jersey for Indigenous Round.
News • 29 Jul 2020
Vice-Chancellor updates University of Newcastle staff about savings measures
The University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky AO today updated staff on measures to help our institution achieve financial …
News • 20 Jul 2020
Tests show potential for medicinal cannabis to kill cancer cells
revealing its potential as a treatment rather than simply a relief medication.
News • 20 Jul 2020
University of Newcastle’s cloud-first success improves work and learning experience for thousands during COVID-19 isolation
The University of Newcastle has become the first University in Australia to migrate its digital data to the cloud in …
News • 09 Jul 2020
City supports accredited training for COVID-19 affected workers
Newcastle small business workers now have access to free accredited online training as part of an initiative of City of Newcastle delivered through TAFE NSW, the University of Newcastle and Novaskill.
News • 03 Jul 2020
Heritage home transformation wins coveted architecture award
A beautifully crafted residential design by a Newcastle architect has been recognised in the coveted 2020 WA Architecture Awards.
News • 03 Jul 2020
NHMRC funding set to address inequity faced by people with mental health conditions
Building the capacity of community mental health services to provide preventive care to people with a mental health condition will be the focus of a three-year project led by researchers at the University of Newcastle.
News • 01 Jul 2020
Tailored support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers to quit smoking and improve family health
A significant grant awarded to a Hunter researcher will fund a first-of-its kind program to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers to quit smoking when their partner is pregnant, or if they have young children at home.
News • 29 Jun 2020
ARC Linkage Project success for naval vessel corrosion project
A research team from the University of Newcastle has received $650,000 in funding from the coveted Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project scheme to improve the understanding of the deterioration of ships and maritime structures.
News • 29 Jun 2020
Funding boost to research debilitating fatigue in stroke survivors
More than $1 million has been announced by the Federal Government to support researchers investigating how to combat the most common and severely debilitating, however vastly under-treated, side effect of stroke – fatigue.
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.