The J. Derek Bewley Career Lectures presented at the triennial meetings of the International Society of Seed Science support early-career seed scientists by providing retrospective views, from those late in their careers, of lessons learned and future implications. Ambition, ability, inspiration, foresight, hard work and opportunity are obvious career requirements. The importance of mentoring and teamwork combined with the clear communication of results, understanding and ideas are emphasized. The role of illustration in research, and its dissemination, is outlined: illustration can support hypothesis development, testing and communication. Climate change may perturb the production of high-quality seed affecting conservation as well as agriculture, horticulture and forestry. An illustrative synthesis of the current understanding of temporal aspects of the effects of seed production environment on seed quality (assessed by subsequent seed storage longevity) is provided for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Seed science research can contribute to complex global challenges such as future food supplies from seed-propagated crops in our changing climate whilst conserving biological diversity (through seed ecology and technologies such as ex situ plant genetic resources conservation by long-term seed storage in genebanks), but only if that research can be – and then is – applied.

J. Derek Bewley 职业讲座在国际种子科学学会三年一次的会议上发表，通过提供职业生涯后期的回顾性观点，对经验教训和未来影响提供回顾性观点，为处于职业生涯早期的种子科学家提供支持。抱负、能力、灵感、远见、努力和机会是显而易见的职业要求。强调指导和团队合作的重要性，以及对结果、理解和想法的清晰沟通。概述了插图在研究及其传播中的作用：插图可以支持假设的发展、检验和交流。气候变化可能会扰乱优质种子的生产，影响保护以及农业、园艺和林业。Triticum aestivum L.) 和水稻 ( Oryza sativa L.)。种子科学研究可以应对复杂的全球挑战，例如在我们不断变化的气候中通过种子繁殖的作物提供未来食物，同时保护生物多样性（通过种子生态学和技术，例如通过在基因库中长期储存种子来保护异地植物遗传资源） ，但前提是该研究可以——然后被——应用。