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 • 26 Jul 2018
Magnets prove repellent to sharks and rays
A new study has revealed simple magnets may be the solution to reducing the number of sharks and rays caught as bycatch from commercial fishing activities.
News • 26 Jul 2018
Showcasing new advances for building Australia’s energy and transport infrastructure
A collaborative research centre, led by the University of Newcastle and directed by Laureate Professor Sloan AO, is pioneering new approaches and software for designing cheaper and safer energy and transport infrastructure.
News • 18 Jul 2018
Medicine student tells the story of dementia
University of Newcastle medicine student, Tara Kannan, has been announced as a winner of this year’s National Dementia Storytelling Competition.
News • 17 Jul 2018
Professor Ajayan Vinu elected Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science
Professor Ajayan Vinu of the University of Newcastle’s School of Engineering, has been elected Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS).
News • 16 Jul 2018
Funding success to aid early interventions for cancer and stroke
Two exceptional Early to Mid-Career Researchers have secured more than $1.16 million to explore early intervention methods for two significant health challenges
News • 13 Jul 2018
New Colombo Plan strengthens global connections
The Australian Government has awarded the University of Newcastle $1,267,750 million in funding under the 2019 New Colombo Plan Mobility Program.
News • 12 Jul 2018
Professor Jenny Gore conferred Visiting Professor at Oxford
Global education thought-leader, Laureate Professor Jenny Gore has been conferred the prestigious title of Visiting Professor at Oxford University, commencing October 2018.
News • 12 Jul 2018
Public health expert acknowledged with Australian Alumni Award
Renowned public health expert and UON alumnus, Dr Thira Woratanarat, was awarded the Alumni Community Engagement Award at the 2018 Australian Alumni Awards in Bangkok, last night.
News • 12 Jul 2018
Paralegal to compete in Australia’s largest moot court competition
Courtney Parnell, a paralegal at Moray & Agnew Lawyers, has been selected as one of four students to represent the University of Newcastle at the largest moot court competition in Australia.
News • 12 Jul 2018
Professor Kevin Hall appointed member of the ARC Advisory Council
The Australian Research Council (ARC) announced University of Newcastle Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Kevin Hall has been appointed a member of its Advisory Council.
News • 09 Jul 2018
Honorary doctorate awarded to global leader in equity and education
Professor Geoff Whitty CBE admitted to the degree of Doctor of Education (honoris causa) at the University of Newcastle.
News • 09 Jul 2018
The Ripple effect: Improving health outcomes for Indigenous Australians
Internationally-recognised leader in Indigenous cancer research, Professor Gail Garvey, will share her insights on the role Indigenous medical education can play in improving the health outcomes of Indigenous Australians, in a keynote lecture at UON tonight.
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.