Biography - Harold T. Stokes

The American Crystallographic Association is honored to recognize Professor Harold T. Stokes of Brigham Young University with the 2025 Kenneth N. Trueblood Award for his extraordinary contributions to computational crystallography and the advancement of group-theoretical methods in structural science.

For more than two decades, Professor Stokes has collaborated closely with Professor Campbell in developing tools that have transformed the way crystallographers study symmetry, phase transitions, and complex structural behavior. Their co-creation of the ISOTROPY Software Suite—including the widely used ISODISTORT and FINDSYM programs—has made advanced group-theoretical analysis accessible to researchers worldwide.

A pioneering physicist, Professor Stokes’s early collaborations with Dorian Hatch established the theoretical groundwork for modern symmetry-mode analysis. His deep expertise in group theory and unwavering commitment to open-access software have empowered generations of scientists to visualize and interpret the symmetry relationships that define crystalline materials. Even in retirement, he continues to guide the evolution of the ISOTROPY tools, ensuring their lasting impact on the crystallographic community.