A member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The founder of the Mathematical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (at present V. A. Steklov Mathematical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences). A prominent mathematician and mechanical engineer.

He taught mechanics in Kharkov Technological Institute from 1893 to 1906. During his Kharkov stage Steklov developed his exceptional pedagogical talent. There is one extant lithograph course of his lectures on "Theoretical Mechanics" where apart from beautifully expounded mechanics theory, we also find some additional material on mathematics which was at that time outside the officially accepted curriculum, but absolutely necessary for a deep study of mechanical processes - the elements of vector algebra and vector analysis, some topics on curvilinear integrals etc.

Expounding of mathematics based on vector algebra and vector analysis was a novelty at that time. On Vladimir Andreyevich's suggestion in place of the so called repetitions - interim exams - in KTI were introduced practical lessons (for the first time in Russia) where the students solved problems spurring their interest in the subject. During the course of the lessons they were given additional explanations of the most difficult points of the curriculum. These practical lessons are still extant today and their usefulness is obvious.