Local Community Outreach for Energy Efficiency

The University of Newcastle provides programs to educate the local community about the importance of energy efficiency and clean energy.

In 2024, through the Centre for Organic Electronics (COE), we continued to raise awareness about solar technology and clean energy solutions. COE is a global leader in the exciting emerging field of 'functional printing', which uses conventional printing technologies to manufacture clever, high performing, low-cost materials to help solve some of the world's greatest challenges.

The Centre for Organic Electronics is marrying the creation of clever electronic inks with well-established printing technologies to address global challenges spanning renewable energy, health & medicine, and mining safety.

Their core focus is on translating cutting edge research for real world impact. As such, they partner with business, industry and government to generate products, systems and services that benefit our global community.

The COE is multidisciplinary, with expertise spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, health, design and communications. This depth and breadth of talent and expertise enables us to successfully manage projects from end-to-end.

Research themes include:

• printed solar
• biosensors & bioelectronics
• artificial colour retina
• scanning helium microscopy (SHeM)
• medical physics

Not just a hub for innovative research, the COE is one of the only research facilities in the world capable of also manufacturing printed electronic devices at commercial scale.

The University of Newcastle's Centre for Organic Electronics (COE) Successfully Hosted Its 14th Annual Spring School in 2024

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.

In December 2024, University-made Printed Solar powered Coldplay concerts in COE partnership.

Coldplay has made significant commitments to sustainability, continuously exploring and applying new technologies to reduce their environmental impact. This partnership was another step towards achieving their ambitious sustainability goals to reduce their tour’s carbon emissions by 50%.

An array of 500 square meters (about twice the area of a tennis court) of Printed Solar was placed behind the seats behind the stage and elsewhere in the venue to collect power in battery packs. These batteries were then used to power Coldplay’s C Stage and fulfil other ancillary power needs throughout the venue.

Printed Solar uses organic photovoltaics (OPVs) which are a next-generation solar cell technology that uses organic compounds to convert sunlight into electricity. Now producing at scale with the support of the Newcastle Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Hub, located at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). Manufactured with PET plastic using roll-to-roll printing techniques and fully recycled in-house, Printed Solar is one of the lowest emission-intensive energy sources available.

Dr Ben Vaughan, Hub Manager for the ANFF, says Printed Solar has enormous potential for a variety of applications.

Members of TRaCE, NIER, COE and Kardinia Energy backstage at Accor Stadium.

The COE team in Newcastle holding up a roll of Printed Solar designed for the Coldplay concert.

News • 18 Nov 2019

True extent of colonial frontier massacres revealed as new sites added to interactive map

The true extent of massacres on the colonial frontier of Australia has been revealed by researchers at the University of Newcastle. Around 97 per cent of people killed in these massacres were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

News • 15 Nov 2019

Great Hammerhead Shark is top of the food chain – new study

Crucial information about the Great Hammerhead Shark that underlines their importance for the Australian coastal ecosystem has been uncovered by marine ecologists at the University of Newcastle.

News • 15 Nov 2019

Free legal clinic to support community’s vulnerable older people

Some of the most vulnerable people in our society – older people – are benefiting from a new free community legal service established by Newcastle Law School in Newcastle and Gosford.

News • 14 Nov 2019

Investment to support female researchers

Ten promising University of Newcastle researchers have received funding to support the development of their academic careers. The investment, which totals $300,000, is part of the 2020 Women in Research (WIR) Fellowship, which is designed to champion diversity and gender equity at the University.

News • 14 Nov 2019

Mental health leader hailed on Hunter research’s night of nights

Nationally renowned mental health trailblazer Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin was named the 2019 Researcher of the Year at tonight’s annual HMRI Awards Night, capping a stellar evening in which over $10 million in grant funding was announced or acknowledged.

News • 11 Nov 2019

From Idaho to Newcastle - New Deputy Vice-Chancellor announced

The University of Newcastle is delighted to advise that after an extensive international search Professor Janet Nelson has accepted the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and will start at the University in February 2020.

News • 07 Nov 2019

Farmers face unexpected challenges as they navigate modern life on the land

As drought concerns farmers across the country, new research has shown Australian farmers are facing other unexpected challenges as regional Australia continues to evolve and more people from cities escape to a life in the country.

News • 06 Nov 2019

Engineering student secures John Monash scholarship

University of Newcastle engineering student, Sam Parker, will continue his ambition of combining empathy and empowerment with engineering, after receiving a prestigious John Monash Scholarship to carry out postgraduate study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2020.

News • 06 Nov 2019

Biomedical scientist’s mission to conquer cancer recognised at NSW Premier's Awards

Dr Matt Dun was named the Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow at this year's NSW's Premier Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research.

News • 04 Nov 2019

New monitoring technique lets your Remotely Operated Device do the snorkelling

Researchers at the University of Newcastle and Macquarie University have found a novel way to remotely track fish in shallow water environments.

News • 01 Nov 2019

New partnership encouraging innovation and regional economic growth takes flight

The University of Newcastle and Newcastle Airport have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that seeks to maximise opportunities to …

News • 30 Oct 2019

University of Newcastle part of ground-breaking NSW study to grow medicinal cannabis industry

The NSW Government is investing in pioneering research into the medicinal cannabis industry, with Minister for Agriculture, Adam Marshall unveiling a new $10 million study from a top-secret cannabis research facility in regional NSW, last week.

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