The Grey Lit Café

Anthony Haynes
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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.

  1. Spineless Wonders: the power of print unbound

    AUG 25

    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 listening We 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 Orchestra Support the show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    27 min
  2. Effective design features on posters (GM1 comms)

    MAY 20

    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. Contents 00:00 Navigation01:56 Visual aspects of text04:25 Contrast07:21 Alignment09:13 Naming10:29 Further resourceFurther Resources Robin Williams, The non-designer’s design book, 4th edn (Peachpit Press, 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 show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    12 min
  3. Physical aspects of poster presentations (GM1 comms)

    MAY 17

    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. Contents 00:00 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 show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    11 min
  4. Tactics: group presentations and Q&A (Comms for GM1)

    MAY 17

    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. Contents 00:00 Group prsentations01:35 Use of space03:30 Q & A09:14 Further resourcesLink The 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 show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    11 min
  5. Effective communication using slides (Comms for GM1)

    MAY 17

    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. Contents 00:00 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 show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    18 min
  6. What makes a good presentation (Comms for GM1)

    MAY 17

    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. Contents 00.00 'Presentation' and 'slides' aren't synonyms02:37 Where to look and why08:06 Creating flow10:18 Getting the timing rightFurther listening This 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 show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    16 min
  7. How to add value to your poster (Comms for GM1)

    MAY 17

    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. Contents 00:00 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 episodes This 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 show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    11 min
  8. Podcasting on grey literature: what have we done? whither will we go?

    MAR 8

    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 listening We 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 EssaCredits Audio 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 show About the publisher This 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 mentoring editing and writing training and 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/.

    7 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Anthony Haynes
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Frontinus Ltd
  • Show Website
    The Grey Lit Café