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 • 03 Feb 2020
Port Macquarie Graduation celebrates work-ready graduates
Years of textbooks and classes are over for the students graduating from the University of Newcastle’s Port Macquarie campus, as …
News • 31 Jan 2020
It’s awards season all over again…..
With the Golden Globes and the Grammys behind us and the Oscars up next, the celebration of ‘class of 2019’ will soon give way to speculation about likely candidates for next year’s awards.
News • 31 Jan 2020
Local researchers succeed in latest ARC Linkage funding
Two University of Newcastle researchers, and a research team have been awarded more than $1.7 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for projects that support advancements in sustainable energy, health, agriculture and mineral processing.
News • 23 Jan 2020
New research to investigate link between obesity and endometrial cancer
Hunter researchers have been awarded a $600,000 grant to investigate the link between obesity and endometrial cancer to better identify and treat those at risk.
News • 22 Jan 2020
New biotech venture going viral in battle against cancer
The scientific team behind Viralytics, a Hunter-based biotech firm bought in 2018 by Merck for a record $502 million, is reuniting for a new private venture aiming to develop cutting-edge cancer therapies. ImmVirX.
News • 21 Jan 2020
Smoking increases risk of complications after surgery, joint WHO study finds
People who smoke cigarettes are at a significantly higher risk of post-surgical complications including heart and lung injuries, infections and delayed or impaired wound healing, a new study has found.
News • 17 Jan 2020
Beachside clinic offers free legal advice to the community and bushfire victims
In the midst of the bushfire crisis, the University of Newcastle Legal Centre’s annual Law on the Beach pop-up clinic will soon kick off, offering people free legal advice on any law-related matter, including bushfire insurance claims.
News • 27 Dec 2019
Cell finding brings hope for uterus ailments
Researchers from the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) believe they have solved a 75-year scientific mystery …
News • 18 Dec 2019
NHMRC awards $9.3 million to 13 University of Newcastle projects
The University of Newcastle has received more than $9.3 million in funding to support projects aiming to solve some of the world’s most critical health problems and improve the lives of millions of Australians.
News • 18 Dec 2019
Disadvantaged students set to benefit from research grant focussed on mental health
More than $480,000 has been awarded to explore new ways to improve the mental well-being of university students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
News • 16 Dec 2019
Honorary degrees awarded to renowned leaders
Prominent politicians, an acclaimed journalist, and a champion for the visually impaired are among those who will receive Honorary Doctorates …
News • 16 Dec 2019
Students celebrate success at Callaghan graduation
More than 1,000 University of Newcastle students will doff their caps and celebrate the results of thousands of hours of …
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.