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 • 01 Oct 2019

A new dawn for Australian minerals

A new $35 million Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence based at the University of Newcastle will make mineral processing more environmentally sustainable and do much to secure the future availability of the metals we depend on for modern living.

News • 30 Sep 2019

Australian and Thai universities launch new two-degree program to develop talent in age of global disruption

The University of Newcastle, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Nurture Higher Education (UK) today announced the launch of a two-degree program in Bangkok, enabling students to earn a degree from each university without studying abroad and attend graduation ceremonies in two countries.

News • 27 Sep 2019

Community stories keep the memory of iconic ‘The Store’ alive

Memories and stories from members of the Newcastle community of the iconic co-operative ‘The Store’ have been captured and digitised by the University of Newcastle in an oral history project.

News • 26 Sep 2019

University of Newcastle researchers named top in their field

Six University of Newcastle researchers have been named as top in their field in new data published in The Australian’s 2019 Research magazine this week.

News • 26 Sep 2019

Unlocking answers to the energy supply system of the future

An initiative has launched aimed at providing ways Australia can successfully integrate new energy technologies into the power grid.

News • 25 Sep 2019

Vice-Chancellor inducted to prestigious Bragg Membership

Receiving the highest category of membership awarded by The Royal Institution of Australia, the University of Newcastle’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, will be inducted as an Honorary Bragg member today.

News • 20 Sep 2019

Communities shape but don’t determine student aspirations

Communities exert a powerful influence on young people’s aspirations for university education, according to new research led by the University of Newcastle, Australia.

News • 20 Sep 2019

Newcastle nanotechnologist awarded prestigious international lecture

Leading the charge in translating basic materials research into real-world products, Professor Ajayan Vinu has been awarded the highly coveted C.N. Rao Distinguished Lecture on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT) Bombay – the highest ranked university in

News • 11 Sep 2019

Game-changer lets students decide how they want to learn

In a world-first for higher education, the University of Newcastle will place students at the centre of their own learning by adopting the Big Picture Education design, which is implemented in some of the most innovative high schools across the globe.

News • 06 Sep 2019

Massacre map and Guardian Australia partnership project wins NSW Premier's History Award

The Killing Times, a digital project resulting from a partnership between The University of Newcastle’s Colonial Frontier Massacre Map research team and The Guardian Australia has won the NSW Premier’s History Award.

News • 05 Sep 2019

2019 Alumni Award Recipients Announced

Public health physician Ruth Lopert has received the University of Newcastle’s 2019 Alumni Medal for professional excellence and her dedication to global health and pharmaceutical policy.

News • 05 Sep 2019

University’s fundraising trek unites staff, alumni and community in support of Indigenous health

Trekking 100 kilometres across the arid Australian outback in five days is a challenge, but one that 25 brave individuals are eager to tackle in the name of Indigenous education and health research.

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