Yury Stepanyants graduated in 1973 with an MS Diploma from Gorky State University (Russia), started to work as an engineer at Research Radiophysical Institute, and then proceeded to a career at Institute of Applied Physics (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). In 1983, Yury Stepanyants obtained a Ph.D. in physical oceanography, and in 1992, the degree of Doctor of Sciences in geophysics. Yury Stepanyants migrated to Australia in 1998 and worked for 12 years at Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Sydney). Since July 2009, he has been working at University of Southern Queensland (Toowoomba), holding the position of full professor.