The Grey Lit Café

Hosted by Anthony Haynes

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Aug 2025

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About the show

Grey (or gray) literature – 'grey lit' for short – includes such forms of communication as reports, white papers, dissertations, newsletters, slide decks, blogs, and podcasts. The Grey Lit Café explores the opportunities and benefits that grey lit provides for professionals and researchers. The podcast is directed by Anthony Haynes, produced by Dr Bart Hallmark, and published by Frontinus Ltd, a communications agency focused on engineering, infrastructure, sustainability, and research. Frontinus provides consultancy, editing, writing, and training services. If you're creating some grey literature and would like some support, contact us via our website, frontinus.org.uk.

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August 25, 2025Episode 7427 min

Spineless Wonders: the power of print unbound

Spineless Wonders is the splendid title for a splendid exhibition at the University of London's Senate House Library - an exhibition of unbound material in myriad formats, spanning five hundred years of printing.This episode reviews the exhibition with its three curators:Tansy Barton (Academic Librarian)Christos Fotelis (Conservator)Leila Kassir (Academic Librarian)We consider how the exhibition came about, how exhibits were selected, what the aim of the exhibition is, and which exhibits constitute the curators' favourites. And, as a by-product of our discussion we reflect on established themes of the podcast, namely how grey literature is defined and what relationship it has to ephemera.Details of the exhibition, which continues to 15 November 2025, together with supporting digital resources, may be found on the University of London's website, here.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Before Spotify: the remarkable story of chautauquasBut what about letters? Their scholarly use as grey literatureHow to define grey literature? The implications of lettersCredit The music is from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

May 20, 2025Episode 7312 min

Effective design features on posters (GM1 comms)

If you're studying on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course, this episode is for you.The episode focuses on the visual aspects of advice. It seeks to provide pragmatic recommendations that will make a marked difference to the communicative effectiveness of your poster presentation.Contents00:00 Navigation01:56 Visual aspects of text04:25 Contrast07:21 Alignment09:13 Naming10:29 Further resourceFurther ResourcesRobin Williams, The non-designer’s design book, 4th edn (PeachpitPress, 2014).Writing, designing, and presenting a poster (a writing protocol): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bW8sj5j1W70PjYLUuLgPLPADyOvUOXVV/view/.Credit: The music, from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, is courtesy of the US Marine Band. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

May 17, 2025Episode 7111 min

Physical aspects of poster presentations (GM1 comms)

If you're studying on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course, this episode is for you.The episode focuses on the (quite radical) implications of the context of poster displayspectators' behaviouraspects of inclusive practice.These considerations will help you to optimise the communicative effectiveness of your poster presentation.Contents00:00 Key issues03:29 Allocation of space on the poster04:43 Non-linear sequencing07:40 InclusivenessCredit: The music, from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, is courtesy of the US Marine Band. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

May 17, 2025Episode 7211 min

Tactics: group presentations and Q&A (Comms for GM1)

If you're a student on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode is for you.Indeed, it focuses on considerations specific to the course, based on observations from previous cohorts' presentations.This is the third of three episodes on presentations. There is a parallel set of episodes on poster presentations.Contents00:00 Group prsentations01:35 Use of space03:30 Q & A09:14 Further resourcesLinkThe protocol, 'Giving a presentation', is available from the Frontinus website, here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QyT64vNnO7RXUhoWj9WBStOewtOwzv6s/view.Credit: The music is from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, courtesy of the US Marine Band.Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

May 17, 2025Episode 7017 min

Effective communication using slides (Comms for GM1)

If you're a student on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode is for you.The episode stems from consideration of the pitfalls presenters fall into concerning use of slides.Simply by avoiding these pitfalls, you can make your presentation outstandingly communicative.This is the second of three episodes on presentations. There is a parallel set of episodes on poster presentations.Contents00:00 Key issues04:37 Audience engagement07:10 The three functions of slides12:57 Using slides interactively15:51 Implications for time managementCredit: The music is from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, courtesy of the US Marine Band.Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

May 17, 2025Episode 6916 min

What makes a good presentation (Comms for GM1)

If you're a student on the University of Cambridge's Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode has been created for you.The episode stems from consideration of the big pitfalls presenters often fall into and provides advice on how to avoid them.Simply by avoiding the pitfalls, you can make your presentation outstandingly good.Contents00.00 'Presentation' and 'slides' aren't synonyms02:37 Where to look and why08:06 Creating flow10:18 Getting the timing rightFurther listeningThis is the first of three episodes on presentations. The other two concern:slidestactics concerning group presentations and course-specific factors.Credit: The music is from Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, courtesy of the US Marine Band. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

May 17, 2025Episode 6811 min

How to add value to your poster (Comms for GM1)

If you’re a student on the Multidisciplinary Design course (GM1), this episode has been created for you.Understandably, students tasked with preparing a poster presentation tend to assume that it’s all about the poster itself. Of course, the poster’s the primary component of a poster presentation. But there’s more to poster presentation than that. This episode explains the why and the how concerning two further components of poster presentations. Attending to all three components of a poster presentation will help you to optimise the way you engage your audience and communicate your work.Contents00:00 What’s in the series?00:58 What are the components of a poster presentation?03:02 Who are you communicating with?05:36 What does your poster not say?07:07 How can you add value with supplementary resources?10:23 Where next?Further episodesThis episode is the first of a series of episodes on poster presentations. The others are:How to optimise your use of space on your posterHow to optimise design features on your posterA parallel set of episodes deals with presentations. Support the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

March 8, 2025Episode 676 min

Podcasting on grey literature: what have we done? whither will we go?

"Three years have passed; five summers, with the length/ Of five long winters!" (as William Wordsworth wrote). This episode was recorded to mark the third anniversary of The Grey Lit Café's first episode ('Welcome to the Grey Lit Café') and the conclusion of our seventh season. We briefly review the season in the context of our developing conception of how best to discuss grey literature and we look ahead to the next season, which promises a novel focus.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Another season over and what have we done?How meetings work, with Carrie GoucherDon't fall in love with your work, with Sabuhi EssaCreditsAudio production and editing: Anthony HaynesOpening announcement: Engy MoussaMusic: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

February 26, 2025Episode 6648 min

Dissertations as an interface between industry and academia, with Joseph Gibbons

A key role of grey literature is to provide an interface between industry and academic research. In this episode, we continue our focus on innovation in grey literature by interviewing Dr Joseph Gibbons, Principal Technical Advisor at Natural Power Ireland.Joseph outlines a scheme he established to enable doctoral students to spend time in industry, working on research projects that formed the basis of their dissertations.Joseph explains:what the scheme entailsits rationalehow it was implementedabove all, the benefits of the scheme for all stakeholders.LinksJoseph's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-gibbons/Natural Power: https:www.naturalpower.com/ukFurther listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Dissertations and books: how are they related?How to give a presentation on engineering?CreditsAudio editing: Dr Bart Hallmark Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.

February 19, 2025Episode 6534 min

Podcasting as a pedagogical tool, with James Austin

Anthony Haynes writes: A persistent theme on The Grey Lit Café is the role of grey literature genres in higher education. We've published episodes on abstracts, dissertations, essays, online lectures, posters, and slide decks.In this episode, we take up a challenge from our recent episodes on essays: what alternatives - when it comes to expository and discursive communication - are there to essays?Here, in the second of two interviews, Dr James Austin (University of Connecticut) explains how his pedagogy encompasses student production of podcasts.ReferencesJames's publications are itemised on his university page: https://english.uconn.edu/person/james-austin/.Further listeningWe hope you found this episode rewarding. If so, you might find the following of particular interest:Slide decks: their developmental useHow effective are essays as an academic genre? The case of examinationsHow effective are essays as an academic genre? The case of examinationsOnline lectures: Bart Hallmark on pitfalls and good practicePosters as a form of research communicationCreditsAudio editing: Dr Bart Hallmark Music: from Handel's Water Music, courtesy of the United States Marine Band and Marine Chamber OrchestraSupport the showAbout the publisherThis episode is published by Frontinus Ltd. We're a communications consultancy that helps organisations and individuals to communicate scientific, professional, and technical content to non-specialist audiences. We provide consultancy mentoringediting and writingtrainingand work on presentations, bids and proposals, and publications (for example, reports and papers).To learn more about services or explore ways of working together, please contact us via our website, http://frontinus.org.uk/.