The ISTP was originally established in 1988, through funding provided by the Western Australian Government, to create a better understanding of the roles and effects of science and technology in the wider community. The Institute is now an independent body providing teach-ing and research on the Murdoch campus. It has about 8 academic staff researching and supervising 60 postgraduate research students, making it one of the biggest research organisations of its kind in the world. The goal of the ISTP is to assist industry, policy-makers and the community come to grips with the overlapping issues of creating a better economy, an improved environment and a more just, participative society. The Institute's outlook is very global, but with local emphasis.
Local problems help researchers define the issue, which can then be applied more broadly.
In recent times Institute staff have made major submissions to government agencies on such topics as renewable energy, transport, science and technology policy, and greenhouse gas abatement. It emphasises the essential links between governments, markets and the community. It also takes its expertise directly to industry, government and community needs with short courses and seminars. Projects include studies of the market for particular technologies, barriers to renewables in the energy system, and opportunities in Indonesia, South Africa and Bangladesh. The latter country has recently awarded a PhD scholarship to an engineer to work in the ISTP on how renewable energy can become a part of rural life in Bangladeshi villages.