Rhodes, Frank

Frank Harold Trevor Rhodes (1926-2012) was a British-American geologist and academic administrator who served as President of Cornell University from 1977 to 1995. While primarily known for his contributions to geology and university leadership, Rhodes engaged with questions at the intersection of science and religion throughout his career. His anthology "The Language of Earth: A Literary Anthology" (1981), co-edited with Richard O. Stone and Bruce D. Malamud, explored how geological understanding shapes human perspectives on nature, time, and existence. Rhodes advocated for dialogue between scientific and religious communities, arguing that geology's deep time perspective could enrich theological reflection on creation and divine action. His writings emphasized that scientific knowledge need not conflict with religious faith, promoting a vision of complementary ways of understanding reality that influenced discussions about God and nature in academic settings.