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 • 13 Aug 2018
Funding to develop targeted health solutions
Researchers from the University of Newcastle have received more than $1.4 million in funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to support the Australian Government’s new male and female health strategies.
News • 13 Aug 2018
ARC awards UON $1.5m to develop PFAS remediation solutions
The University of Newcastle has received $1.5m in Australian Research Council (ARC) funding for two of nine national research projects that will focus on developing ground-breaking initiatives to address PFAS contamination in the environment.
News • 10 Aug 2018
New international research partnership forged
Medical physics research set to benefit from collaboration
News • 09 Aug 2018
Expert offers insights into effective disaster management
A leading ambassador for the United Nations (UN) in the Asia-Pacific region is visiting Newcastle this week to share insights into the impact of natural disasters on human mobility.
News • 08 Aug 2018
Would you like a trial run at being a new parent?
Developed by a team of researchers at the University of Newcastle, the m-health* game for parents in the first postnatal year aims to equip them with tips and knowledge to help on their parenting journey.
News • 07 Aug 2018
Surfing bacteria reveal new insights into the ocean’s health
Australian scientists are tracking the impact of climate change on our ocean by recording more than 175,000 species of marine microbes for the first time.
News • 06 Aug 2018
Connectivity key to reducing depression among elderly Aussies
A funding boost of almost $500,000 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), is set to combat the rates of depression and anxiety among elderly Australians.
News • 03 Aug 2018
ARC funding expands research in microbiology and the humanities
Two of our outstanding researchers have received almost $2 million in Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowships to advance their research discoveries in the fields of microbiology and the humanities.
News • 02 Aug 2018
Professor Moghtaderi receives national engineering award
The University of Newcastle’s Professor Behdad Moghtaderi has been awarded an Australian Engineering Excellence Award for the development of the world’s first large scale testing facility for ventilation air methane abatement.
News • 02 Aug 2018
Australian farming the focus of new Soil Research Centre
Australia’s largest collaborative soil research initiative, aimed at enabling farmers to increase their productivity and profitability, has launched today at the University of Newcastle
News • 30 Jul 2018
Our Engineering students won 2nd Prize in National Engineers Day (NED) - Energy Innovation Challenge 2018
On 28 July 2018, our Engineering students in Singapore Aswin & Navendu secured the 2nd position in National Engineers Day (NED) - Energy Innovation Challenge 2018.
News • 27 Jul 2018
Massacres on Australia’s colonial frontier climb to 250
The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander massacres verified and recorded on an online digital map has risen to 240, following an influx of valuable information and evidence from regional communities around Australia.
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.