Heidrun Kopp

The 2025 Marie Tharp Medal is awarded to Heidrun Kopp for innovative research and groundbreaking discoveries in convergent margin systems, large earthquake processes, active fault slip, magmatic arc systems and geohazards.

Heidrun Kopp is Professor at the Christian Albrechts Universität, Kiel and an internationally recognized leader in subduction processes and active plate boundary systems. She obtained her PhD in marine geophysics in 2001 with a landmark study of the structure, mechanical properties, and geometry of the Sunda subduction zone using reflection and wide-angle seismic data. As head of the Research Division Dynamics of the Ocean Floor at GEOMAR since 2012 she has built a major marine geophysics group, which contributes to the international recognition of European expertise in imagery and deformation of the ocean floor. Throughout her career Kopp has continually expanded her research interests to encompass convergent margin systems, large earthquake processes, active fault slip and magmatic arc systems, tsunamis, submarine land sliding, subduction and fluid budgets and marine gas hydrates. Since 2011, she has led seven successful international marine expeditions including some of the most ambitious large-scale imaging efforts at hazardous subduction zones throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, including Indonesia, South America, Central America, the Tonga-Kermadec Trench, and the Lesser Antilles. This high number of successful marine experiments underlines her exceptional leadership skills. Her work has produced high resolution imaging of crustal and plate boundary structure at active subduction margins using deployments of an unusually broad array of geophysical instrumentation, including Ocean Bottom Seismometers and active source seismic imaging and marine magnetotelluric sensors. She has also notably pioneered a new technique in seafloor geodesy using acoustic transponders to constrain relative displacements across active faults and submarine landslides. Kopp is currently contributing landmark geohazard research integrating this new technique. A patent for precise positioning of submarine instruments emphasizes her technical expertise.

Through her numerous research projects and marine expeditions Heidrun Kopp has provided training for generations of Early Career Scientists. She is known for her generous support and mentorship of doctoral students and postdoctoral collaborators, many of whom now hold important posts. She is an outstanding teacher and communicator and an inspiring role model for young women scientists.

Heidrun Kopp has spared no effort in the service of the European geosciences community, not only in the marine geophysics division but also in support of vital causes such as the blue economy and geohazards. International recognition is reflected in her leadership of and her election to steering committees in national and international scientific programs and advisory panels. She has held the presidency of the German Geophysical Society (2019- 2021) and has also served as Chair of the European Marine Board Working Group Marine Geohazards and Blue Economy and Vice President of the Inter-Commission Committee on Marine Geodesy (ICCM) of the IUGG.