This medal, initially established in recognition of the scientific achievements of Stephan Mueller in 1997, was renamed in honour of Marie Tharp in 2025, while both medals co-existed between 2022 and 2025. It is awarded to scientists in recognition of their outstanding contributions to tectonics and structural geology. It acknowledges exceptional scientific achievements in advancing the understanding of tectonic processes that shape Earth's lithosphere and research that bridges these disciplines across spatial and temporal scales.

For information on how to nominate scientists for EGU awards and medals, please check our nominations page and the guidelines for proposal and selection of candidates.