13 Facts About Brian Lang

Brian Lang is a trustee of National Museums Scotland since 2014.

Brian Lang started research for a PhD in 1969 with a year of fieldwork in Kenya, and his thesis was accepted six years later.

Brian Lang lectured in social anthropology for some years at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Brian Lang instituted a controversial policy of disposing of archives of historic foreign newspapers, which was halted by his successor Lynne Brindley.

Brian Lang is a trustee of the Heritage Lottery Fund, a member of the Cultural Commission.

Brian Lang has chaired the Heritage Lottery Fund committee for Scotland.

Brian Lang succeeded Struther Arnott as principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews in January 2001.

Brian Lang became a trustee of National Museums Scotland in September 2014, with his second term of appointment being extended to March 2023.

At an unrelated employment tribunal in 2004, Brian Lang drew on his background in social anthropology to compare an academic department at St Andrews to the Ik tribe of Uganda, who, he said, were noted for their "dishonesty, lying and cheating".

Brian Lang was accused of hypocrisy by the St Andrews student newspaper The Saint for promoting the university's environmental policy by asking other members of the university not to use cars, while continuing to use his Jaguar to make the 1.1 mile journey to his office.

In 2008, Brian Lang was awarded an honorary degree by the University of St Andrews.

Brian Lang was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to the arts, heritage, and education.

In 2006, Brian Lang was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.