John Michael Dudley is a physicist and currently Professor of Physics at the University Bourgogne Franche-Comté working at the joint University-CNRS research Institute FEMTO-ST in Besançon, France. Originally from New Zealand, he is known for his research in nonlinear and ultrafast optical physics, for service to international scientific societies, and for initiatives in promoting international scientific outreach and the public communication of science.

Biography

After attending high school at De La Salle College in Mangere, South Auckland, Dudley obtained B.Sc and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Auckland in 1987 and 1992 respectively. His doctoral thesis was titled ''Coherent transient phenomena in the mode-locked argon laser''. In 1992 and 1993, he carried out postdoctoral research at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

in Scotland before taking a lecturing position in 1994 at the

University of Auckland , mottoeng = By natural ability and hard work , established = 1883; years ago , endowment = NZD $293 million (31 December 2021) , budget = NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021) , chancellor = Cecilia Tarrant , vice_chancellor = Dawn F ...

. In 2000, he was appointed Professor at the University of Franche-Comté in

Besançon Besançon (, , , ; archaic german: Bisanz; la, Vesontio) is the prefecture of the department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerl ...

. In 2009 he initiated the United Nations International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies 2015. He served as Steering Committee Chair of the International Year of Light 2015 until its successful completion and oversaw the delivery of it
Final Report
in 2016. In 2012, he was elected to the Executive Board of the European Physical Society, and he served as its President from April 2013 until April 2015. In 2017, he chaired the international partnership that worked with UNESCO to see the proclamation of the annua
International Day of Light
commemoration, and he continues to chair the International Day of Light Steering Committee.

Research and professional interests

Dudley's research has included topics in ultrafast optics, supercontinuum generation and the science of rogue waves. His research has been supported from diverse sources including the French National Research Agency and the

European Research Council The European Research Council (ERC) is a public body for funding of scientific and technological research conducted within the European Union (EU). Established by the European Commission in 2007, the ERC is composed of an independent Scientific ...

. In the field of optical physics, he is particularly recognized for his contributions in ultrafast optical pulse metrology, nonlinear fiber optics, the study of nonlinear localized soliton structures, and especially broadband fiber

supercontinuum generation In optics, a supercontinuum is formed when a collection of nonlinear processes act together upon a pump beam in order to cause severe spectral broadening of the original pump beam, for example using a microstructured optical fiber. The result is ...

. Dudley has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals with his work receiving over 20000 Google Scholar citations and a Google Scholar (Hirsch)

h-index The ''h''-index is an author-level metric that measures both the productivity and citation impact of the publications, initially used for an individual scientist or scholar. The ''h''-index correlates with obvious success indicators such as winn ...

of 70.

Awards and distinctions

Dudley was nominated to the French research body the

Institut Universitaire de France The Institut Universitaire de France (IUF, Academic Institute of France), is a service of the French Ministry of Higher Education that distinguishes each year a small number of university professors for their research excellence, as evidenced by t ...

in 2005 and elected a Fellow of the

Optical Society of America Optica (formerly known as The Optical Society (OSA) and before that as the Optical Society of America) is a professional society of individuals and companies with an interest in optics and photonics. It publishes journals and organizes conference ...

(FOSA) in 2007. He was an IEEE LEOS Distinguished Lecturer for the period 2008-2010 and is past Chair of the Quantum Electronics and Optics Division of the

European Physical Society The European Physical Society (EPS) is a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to promote physics and physicists in Europe through methods such as physics outreach. Formally established in 1968, its membership includes the national physical so ...

. In 2009, he was awarded the Grand Prix de l'Electronique Général Ferrié from the Société des Electriciens et Electroniciens (SEE) and has also received a research award from the IXCORE Foundation. He was elected as a Fellow of the

IEEE The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a 501(c)(3) professional association for electronic engineering and electrical engineering (and associated disciplines) with its corporate office in New York City and its operation ...

(FIEEE) in 2011, a Fellow of the

European Optical Society The European Optical Society (EOS), founded in 1991, is a European organisation for the development of the science of optics. Membership is open to national optical societies, individuals, companies, organisations, educational institutions, and lear ...

(FEOS) in 2012, and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP) in 2018. He is also a recipient of the

CNRS Silver Medal The CNRS Silver Medal is a scientific award given every year to about fifteen researchers by the French National Centre for Scientific Research The French National Centre for Scientific Research (french: link=no, Centre national de la recherch ...

in 2013, the SPIE President's Award in 2014, the Hopkins Leadership Award of the OSA in 2015, the Institute of Physics (IOP) President's Medal in 2016, the American Physical Society Dwight Nicholson Medal for Outreach in 2017, and the SPIE Harold E. Edgerton Award for High-Speed Optics in 2019. In 2019, Dudley was elected an honorary

Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

. In 2020, he was awarded the

R. W. Wood Prize The R. W. Wood Prize is an award endowed by Xerox and given by The Optical Society to an individual that makes an outstanding technical contribution or an invention in the field of optics. The award was established in 1975 in commemoration of Robert ...

The Optical Society Optica (formerly known as The Optical Society (OSA) and before that as the Optical Society of America) is a professional society of individuals and companies with an interest in optics and photonics. It publishes journals and organizes conference ...

(OSA) which recognizes an outstanding discovery, scientific or technical achievement, or invention in the field of optics.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dudley, John M. Living people Laser researchers University of Auckland alumni University of Auckland faculty Academic staff of the University of Franche-Comté Year of birth missing (living people) Fellows of Optica (society) Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand Presidents of the European Physical Society