Based on a media release of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Data and findings are not always shared openly in science. Sometimes, researchers hoard those data and provide little to no access to colleagues from their field. These were the results of a survey of 563 researchers from 64 countries conducted by scientists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). The so-called “Gollum effect” hampers collaborations and harms the careers of less established researchers, writes the team in the scientific journal “One Earth”.
Scientific research should serve the good of mankind, which is why data is not kept under lock and key and findings are shared openly. “Unfortunately, the academic world does not always live up to this ideal. Possessiveness, exclusion, and the hoarding of data, resources and ideas are widespread issues,” explains Dr Jose Valdez, a biodiversity researcher at iDiv and MLU. The phenomenon is known as the “Gollum effect”, a term coined by the researchers themselves and inspired by the tragic character in “The Lord of the Rings” – a figure so fixated on a magic ring that his obsession pulls him into the abyss. “In science, possessive behaviour undermines scientific progress and disproportionately impacts early-career and less established researchers,” says Valdez.
To find out more about how widespread the Gollum effect is in the scientific community, Valdez teamed up with Dr Sandeep Sharma from iDiv and MLU, and Dr John Gould from the University of Newcastle in Australia. The researchers surveyed 563 researchers from 64 countries about their experiences. Most were active in the fields of ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental sciences. The findings: almost half of those surveyed stated that they had experienced the phenomenon themselves. Two thirds reported that they had experienced it repeatedly over the course of their careers. “This ranged from being denied access to study sites or data, to having their research ideas stolen, to authorship manipulation, and the obstruction of research work. The experiences of some of the interviewees even led to serious mental health problems that required medical intervention,” says Jose Valdez.
According to the study participants, the obstacles were often created by established researchers and sometimes even by their own supervisors, or by colleagues within their own research group, as well as competing laboratories. The study found that while researchers across all stages experienced the Gollum effect, researchers just starting out in their scientific careers and people from disadvantaged groups are the most disproportionately affected. According to Valdez, “Our findings show that the Gollum effect is a systemic problem fuelled by the hypercompetitiveness and pressures of modern academia such as limited positions and resources.”
The consequences of the Gollum effect can be serious. Over two thirds of those surveyed reported significant career setbacks. Many were forced to abandon their research topics, change research groups and institutes, or even leave science altogether. Only a third of those who had experienced the Gollum effect said that they took any actions to defend themselves. Nearly a fifth of respondents even admitted to likely having displayed Gollum-like behaviour themselves. “When the scientific environment becomes hostile, it’s not just about professional setbacks, it’s about unrealised ideas, shattered self-confidence and lost potential,” says co-author Sandeep Sharma.
The survey also gave participants the opportunity to suggest solutions to the problem. The most frequently mentioned strategies included raising awareness of the problem, rewarding ethical behaviour, and promoting a culture of openness and collaboration. Institutional reforms were proposed, such as more stable funding, especially for junior researchers, incentives for teamwork and mentoring, as well as clear guidelines concerning data exchange and authorship. According to Dr. John Gould, “Having experienced the phenomenon ourselves in the course of our academic careers, the first step was to recognize and put a name to the problem. We want to encourage an open discussion that will lead to science that is fairer and more collaborative.”
Original publication
(Researchers with iDiv affiliation bolded)
Valdez J.W., Sharma S., Gould J. (2025). Systemic territoriality in academia: The Gollum effect’s impact on scientific research and careers. One Earth, doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101314
Contact
Dr Jose W. Valdez
Postdoctoral Researcher
Biodiversity Conservation research group
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Phone.: +49 341 9739168
EMail: jose.valdez@idiv.de