Frank H.T. Rhodes, president emeritus of Cornell University, has been named winner of the American Geological Institute's (AGI) most prestigious award, the Ian Campbell Medal.

Rhodes, an internationally renowned geologist and educator, will receive the award during the Geological Society of America (GSA) Presidential Awards Ceremony in Denver on Sunday, Oct. 28. Rhodes also is professor emeritus in the Cornell Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

The AGI award, in memory of Campbell, the 1961 AGI president, is awarded to the person who best exemplifies the late geoscientist's accomplishments and influence.

Rhodes served as Cornell president for 18 years, during which research funding at the university tripled, major initiatives in supercomputing, biotechnology and other studies were established, and the number of women and minorities on the faculty doubled. At the time of his retirement in 1995, he was the longest-serving Ivy League president and a national advocate for education and research.

He played a significant role in the development of national science policy under several U.S. presidents and served as chair of the National Science Board, the policy-making body of the National Science Foundation.

Still active, Rhodes continues to aid Cornell development efforts and is involved in national education and science policy.

Rhodes is author of more than 70 major scientific articles and monographs and five books. He holds honorary degrees from more than 30 institutions worldwide and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Born in England, where he earned three degrees from the University of Birmingham, Rhodes now is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

"Frank has inspired many students to choose a career in the geosciences because of his enthusiasm and knowledge," said science instructor Norbert Cygan, a retired Chevron Corp. executive, in his AGI award citation. "But his advice and counsel to governments, academic institutions, charitable foundations and corporations have enriched the worldwide science community at large in countless ways."

The AGI, founded in 1948, is a nonprofit federation of 40 scientific and professional associations representing more than 100,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists

Related World Wide Web sites: The following sites provide additional information on this news release. Some might not be part of the Cornell University community, and Cornell has no control over their content or availability.

o AGI: http://www.agiweb.org

o AGI public outreach: http://www.earthscienceworld.org