Marie Tharp (1920–2006) was a geologist and an oceanographic cartographer working at a time when few women were allowed to study geology. She received bachelor’s degrees in English and music from Ohio University and a master’s degree in geology from the University of Michigan. She later worked with geologist Bruce Heezen to create the first map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. From there, she charted the entire ocean floor.
Tharp's maps detailed the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and facilitated her discovery of an associated rift valley. This work revolutionized the field of geology by enabling broad acceptance of the theories of plate tectonics and continental drift.
