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 • 25 Jun 2018
Innovating health care in regional Australia
An online support tool being developed by University of Newcastle PhD student, Brian Hill, has won the Regional Australia Institute’s 2018 Lightbulb Moments competition.
News • 25 Jun 2018
Call for hormone replacement therapy re-think after hip fracture study
Newcastle endocrinologist, Laureate Professor Roger Smith, has urged a re-think on the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after studying the risk of hip fracture in both elderly women and men.
News • 22 Jun 2018
Newcastle innovators awarded grants to go global
Two leading academics from the University of Newcastle are among the 38 beneficiaries in the latest round of the Australian Government’s Priming Grants, aimed at building international relationships to commercialise ground-breaking research.
News • 22 Jun 2018
Using diversity to push the boundaries of surveying
Bachelor of Surveying student, Elizabeth Evans, is helping to inspire more women to consider a career in surveying.
News • 20 Jun 2018
Mental illness going unrecognised in country communities
Researchers have found that one third of country people experiencing psychological distress don’t identify as having a mental health problem.
News • 18 Jun 2018
Turn the spotlight on an innovator, creator or game-changer
With nominations open for the 2018 Alumni Awards, now is the time to turn the spotlight on a UON alumnus, who is breaking ground in their field, making a profound impact on communities worldwide .
News • 15 Jun 2018
New fellowship to help put the freeze on stroke
After a mild stroke many people recover and go on to live their lives. But for some, their condition will rapidly deteriorate in the hours following a stroke, and it appears that a build-up of pressure in the brain could be the cause.
News • 14 Jun 2018
Research highlights need for a new approach to COPD management
Researchers have provided evidence that a conventional treatment for common respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can actually lead to worse health outcomes when used to treat symptoms caused by respiratory virus infections.
News • 13 Jun 2018
Local blacksmith forging a culture of reuse
The local and surrounding Hunter community are invited to bring their old metal items and have them repaired at an inaugural blacksmith repair day this Saturday in Branxton.
News • 13 Jun 2018
Hunter asthma duo honoured with European respiratory awards
Hunter asthma researchers, Professor Peter Gibson and Professor Jodie Simpson, have scooped two of the European Respiratory Society’s (ERS) most prestigious awards.
News • 13 Jun 2018
Community encouraged to create new opportunities for worthy students
The University of Newcastle is appealing to the community to help transform the lives of students who have exceptional talent, but through circumstances beyond their control, have had limited opportunities to excel and succeed.
News • 12 Jun 2018
University members recognised in Queen's Birthday 2018 Honours
University of Newcastle staff, former staff and alumni have been named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list, recognising their outstanding community contributions.
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.