Distinguished Lecture Series
The Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS) is a monthly program designed to bring thought leaders, innovators, and subject-matter experts together with our technical community to foster dialogue around cutting-edge science, engineering, and defense technologies.
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Hosted by the High Desert Tech Bridge in collaboration with Future Labs and the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), this series offers a platform for speakers to share insights, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
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As part of the NavalX Tech Bridge network—a nationwide initiative by the U.S. Navy—the High Desert Tech Bridge serves as a hub for innovation, connecting the Department of the Navy with nontraditional partners including startups, small businesses, academia, and other defense organizations. Our mission is to accelerate the transition of emerging technologies into operational capabilities for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Adam Matzger
Outside the Blast Radius:
Explosives Discovery Unburdened by Knowledge
March 30, 2026
Prof. Adam J. Matzger received his B.A. degree in 1992 from Oberlin College. His Ph.D. was completed at the University of California at Berkeley in the group of K. Peter C. Vollhardt. He went on to postdoctoral work jointly with Nathan S. Lewis and Robert H. Grubbs at the California Institute of Technology. In 2000, he joined the faculty at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he is now the Charles G. Overberger Collegiate Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Macromolecular Science and Engineering. His current research interest focus is on organic materials in the solid state and encompasses explosives, pharmaceuticals, and porous materials.
