Steve graduated with Honours in Physics from Harvard College, USA, and obtained his Doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program, USA. He joined CSIRO in 1990 where he has been ever since.  He has participated in 14 research voyages, 11 as Chief Scientist, on major expeditions to the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans.  His current interests include; ocean currents and how they affect Earth's climate; the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current; how ocean currents influence sea ice, biogeochemical cycles, and the distribution of biological productivity.