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 • 30 Apr 2018
Findings reveal under-reported groin pain in ballers
An Australian study has revealed the rate of groin injuries among basketball players could be 10 times higher than previously reported, causing significant impact on player performance and quality of life.
News • 30 Apr 2018
Global experts unite to build strong families, capable communities
International experts and collaborative partners who share the vision of supporting, developing, and sustaining strong families and capable communities around the world will unite in Newcastle today for the 3rd Family and Community Strengths International
News • 30 Apr 2018
Health professionals need to work together to help cancer patients quit smoking: new research
Survey of oncologists highlights evidence-practice gap in smoking cessation care.
News • 23 Apr 2018
Strengthening Food Industry Innovation on the Central Coast
Regional Development Australia Central Coast in partnership with Central Coast Industry Connect and the University of Newcastle, will launch the Central Coast Food Innovation Region Initiative, at a Food Futures Central Coast Industry Forum this week.
News • 23 Apr 2018
Funding boost for Indigenous Australians living with dementia
Laureate Professor Robert Sanson-Fisher has received more than $3 million in funding under the NHMRC Dementia in Indigenous Australians scheme.
News • 20 Apr 2018
Wind turbine innovator wins Stanford University Scholarship
A University of Newcastle innovator who developed a small wind turbine with remarkable capacity, has won the inaugural Stanford Australia Foundation – CSIRO Scholarship.
News • 18 Apr 2018
Food addiction: why your mind matters
A world-first, personality-based online intervention for food addiction is being developed by a team* of dietitians, psychologists, neuroscientists, occupational therapists and health researchers.
News • 13 Apr 2018
A kindergarten dream turns reality for University of Newcastle law graduate
With a dream to become a lawyer since kindergarten, Sapphire Dawson persevered to pursue a Law degree, overcoming the initial setback of not meeting the necessary entry score.
News • 12 Apr 2018
Funding success to improve health outcomes
Researchers from the University of Newcastle (UON), Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and Hunter New England Health have been awarded more than $600,000 in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.
News • 12 Apr 2018
A passion for helping evolves into a career of helping
With a background working in the community service sector, Ella Reed identified an opportunity to bolster her clinical experience with theoretical knowledge. This led her to pursue a Bachelor of Social Science.
News • 11 Apr 2018
New Futures Hackathon will decode solutions to help the aged care crisis
The University of Newcastle will invite innovators, problem solvers, tech heads and designers to create technical solutions to help alleviate the world’s ageing population crisis at the New Futures Hackathon for Aged Care.
News • 10 Apr 2018
University radio station announces new interim CEO
Prominent Newcastle business leader Ms Deborah Wright is the new interim CEO of the University of Newcastle’s community radio station 2NURFM, which this year celebrates its 40th year of broadcasting.
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.