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 • 09 Nov 2018
Young veterans’ alcohol use and mental health focus of new research
An online research trial is set to investigate the best methods to support young Australian veterans who drink alcohol and …
News • 08 Nov 2018
Wine win cause for celebration
A new book documenting the Hunter’s rich history of wine making has been named Best Wine Book at the 2018 Wine Communicator of the Year Awards held last night in Sydney.
News • 08 Nov 2018
Wolverine beats Hugh Jackman in brand endorsement battle
New marketing insights have revealed that on-screen personas are more successful brand endorsers than their real celebrity counterparts.
News • 07 Nov 2018
Inaugural Women in STEMM Chair announced
Professor Billie Bonevski announced inaugural Women in STEMM Chair
News • 07 Nov 2018
Heart failure researcher named 2018 rising star
Associate Professor Aaron Sverdlov has been recognised with the 2018 Ministerial Award for Rising Stars in Cardiovascular Research.
News • 07 Nov 2018
Research leading the way towards smoking cessation
New strategies aimed at helping people from diverse backgrounds cease smoking have been recognised as leading initiatives amongst the alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector.
News • 01 Nov 2018
Newcastle's global animation festival returns
Two of our students will have their work showcased at this year's Newcastle International Animation Festival.
News • 31 Oct 2018
Does Dr know best? The role of patients in cancer care decisions
A public seminar at HMRI being held tonight is set to explore the range of roles in cancer care, from doctors to patients.
News • 30 Oct 2018
Neurogastroenterologist named NSW Scientist of the Year
Eminent University of Newcastle biomedical scientist and global authority on functional gut disorders, Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley, AC, is the 2018 NSW Scientist of the Year, announced tonight at the NSW Premier’s Prizes for Science and Engineering at Government House, Sydney.
News • 30 Oct 2018
Oral health students test their nerve in the virtual world
The dentist’s chair may soon be less daunting, with a ground-breaking simulation from the University of Newcastle providing Oral Health Therapy students a unique opportunity to practice administering dental injections in a virtual environment before they enter the patient clinic.
News • 26 Oct 2018
Big hopes for small technologies to create global solutions
Global nanotechnology experts, who use innovation in materials science to develop advanced technologies and solutions for the energy, environment and …
News • 25 Oct 2018
Dads and Daughters Exercise Program stretches to London
A world-first lifestyle program developed at the University of Newcastle, designed to help enhance the physical and emotional well-being of young girls, is set to expand internationally for the first time.
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.