John Dudley received his Ph.D. from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1987 and worked at the University of St Andrews and the University of Auckland before his appointment in 2000 as Professor at the University of Franche-Comté in Besançon, France. His research combines both theory and experiment in optical physics, and he has made particular contributions in the fields of ultrafast optics, supercontinuum generation and the science of rogue waves. In addition to research, he is committed to education and the public communication of science. He served as the President of the European Physical Society for a two-year term from April 2013-March 2015 and has worked with UNESCO and ICTP since 2011 in organizing the International Year of Light in 2015 and the International Day of Light that took place for the first time in 2018. He has received a number of distinctions for his efforts in education and research, most recently the 2019 SPIE Harold E. Edgerton Award recognizing his contributions to ultrafast measurements in nonlinear fibre optics. ABSTRACT: The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics has recognized once again the importance of light science and technology, particularly the role of ultrafast lasers in opening new fields of fundamental physics and driving important societal applications. Moreover, the 2018 laureates Professors Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland have been extremely active in service to the professional optics community, supporting both scientific societies and international initiatives such as the UNESCO International Year and Day of Light. Despite the fact the ultrafast technology is ubiquitous in many technologies of daily life, its historical development and science remains largely unknown outside the specialist laser community. The objective of this talk will be to correct this with a general lecture tracing the exciting history of ultrafast science from the development of the first lasers in the 1960 to the latest national infrastructures being developed today. Along the way, we will explore the general historical context, the 19th century birth of nonlinear science, the Manhattan project and an unexpected link with poetry and a Nobel laureate in literature. In addition, we will summarize plans for the 2019 edition of the International Day of Light which will be celebrated on the 16 May 2019 with a special one-day workshop at ICTP. The talk will be suitable for a general audience and students are especially welcome. The event will be livestreamed from the ICTP website and light refreshments will follow.