Growing up, Eli Hall’s family often visited the Allegheny Reservoir, a man-made lake that straddles the border between Pennsylvania and New York. Driving north along the shores, they’d see blue waters, boaters, swimmers, everything you’d expect from a summer lakeshore. But following that road into the Seneca Nation of Indians’ Allegheny Reservation, they’d see the reservoir change. Gone were the boaters and swimmers and gone were the blue waters. In their place was a mess of green algae. But why?
Having just earned his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, Hall finally has his answer. Along with it, he found a calling to use science to help people.
“As far as I know, I’m the first one in my family from both sides that has gone to grad school,” Hall said. “I never would have thought any of this would be possible.”
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