Based at the University of Western Australia, Cassidy has developed a mathematical model to predict the stability of platforms, which has led to changes in international safety guidelines.

He was announced this morning as the winner of the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year.

“There's obviously a lot of workers on offshore oil rigs, particularly mobile drilling rigs, and any additional safety to ensure that there aren't any structural or foundation accidents helps out safety,”ABC News quoted him as saying.