Brian Lang

Brian Andrew Lang CBE FRSE (born 2 December 1945) is a Scottish social anthropologist who served as deputy chairman of the British Library and Principal of the University of St Andrews 2001–2008. He was Chair of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra 2008–2015. He is a trustee of National Museums Scotland since 2014.

Brian Lang
CBE FRSE
Principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews
In office
January 2001 – December 2008
ChancellorSir Kenneth Dover
The Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
Preceded byStruther Arnott
Succeeded byDame Louise Richardson
Personal details
Born (1945-12-02) 2 December 1945 [1]
Edinburgh, Scotland
EducationRoyal High School of Edinburgh
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
ProfessionAcademic, university administrator

Early life

Lang was born in Edinburgh and educated at the Royal High School of Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh[1] where he studied social anthropology, graduating MA in 1968. He started research for a PhD in 1969 with a year of fieldwork in Kenya, and his thesis was accepted six years later.[2]

Career

He lectured in social anthropology for some years at Aarhus University, Denmark.[1] Returning to the United Kingdom, he joined the scientific staff of the Social Science Research Council, where he was latterly Principal Scientific Officer.[3]

In 1979 and 1980 he was head of the Historic Buildings Branch of the Scottish Development Department, and from 1980 to 1987, was Director of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, based in London.[4]

After this, he spent four years as Director of Public Affairs for the National Trust, before his appointment as Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of the British Library from 1991 until 2000. During this period, the British Library made the delayed and over-budget move into its new building at St Pancras.[5][6] Lang also instituted a controversial policy of disposing of archives of historic foreign newspapers, which was halted by his successor Lynne Brindley.[7]

Lang is a trustee of the Heritage Lottery Fund, a member of the Cultural Commission. He has chaired the Heritage Lottery Fund committee for Scotland.[8]

St Andrews

Lang succeeded Struther Arnott as principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews in January 2001. At his inauguration that year, he stated a commitment to social inclusion.[9] In 2003, analysis of admissions to UK universities from state schools against benchmarks set for each university, found St Andrews performed least well.[10] The following year, Lang announced fifty scholarships for Scottish school pupils intended to tackle elitism by at improving diversity among the student body.[11] While Lang was at St Andrews, the university rose from twentieth in the UK in 2001 to fifth in 2008, according to some league tables.[9]

Lang, upon retirement as principal and vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews, was succeeded by Louise Richardson. He departed office on 31 December 2008.

After St Andrews

In August 2008 he was appointed as the chairman of the board of directors of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and served for seven years until August 2015.[12][13]

Lang became a trustee of National Museums Scotland in September 2014, with his second term of appointment being extended to March 2023.[14]

Controversies

During his first year at St Andrews, a member of the University's administrative staff sought compensation after making allegations that Lang had bullied, intimidated and sexually harassed her.[15] Lang denied the claims.[16] Although an employment tribunal hearing was scheduled, the university and former employee reached an out of court settlement in May 2002.[17] In retrospect, the out of court settlement was considered to have contributed to Lang's lack of popularity while Principal.[18]

At an unrelated employment tribunal in 2004, 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".[19] (This view of the Ik, due to Colin Turnbull, has been repeatedly criticized.[20][21])

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.[22]

Awards and honours

In 2008, Lang was awarded an honorary degree by the University of St Andrews.[23]

Lang was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to the arts, heritage, and education.[24]

In 2006, Lang was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[25]

References
  • University of St Andrews: The Principal - Dr Brian Lang
  • National Heritage Memorial Fund - Brian Lang
  1. "In the news: Brian Lang". Times Higher Education (THE). 24 August 2001. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  2. Lang, Brian (1975). "Migrants, commuters, and townsmen: aspects of urbanization in a small town in Kenya. PhD thesis". University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  3. "RSNO Board Member: Dr Brian Lang FRSE: Biography". Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  4. "University asks Principal to extend stay" (Press release). University of St Andrews. 10 May 2005. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
  5. "In the news: Brian Lang". Times Higher Education (THE). 24 August 2001. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  6. "Sparks fly over British Library costs". Times Higher Education (THE). 28 June 1996. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  7. Ezard, John (24 November 2000). "British Library halts dumping of newspapers". The Guardian.
  8. "Museum hits £16m lottery jackpot". BBC News. 21 July 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  9. "Sticking to principles of excellence". The Herald. Glasgow. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. "William's university 'most elitist'". BBC News. 18 February 2003. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  11. "St Andrews tries to curb elitism". BBC News. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  12. "RSNO appoints new Chair" (Press release). Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). 28 August 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  13. "About us > Dr Brian Lang FRSE. Chair". Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). Archived from the original on 26 February 2014.
  14. "Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Dr Brian Lang". www.nms.ac.uk. National Museums Scotland. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  15. Peterkin, Tom: "Prince's university head denies sex case claim", The Telegraph, 20 August 2001
  16. MacLeod, Donald (20 August 2001). "Principal speaks out against allegations". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  17. Urquhart, Frank (21 May 2002). "University settles sexual harassment case minutes before hearing". The Scotsman. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  18. Kemp, Jackie (17 March 2009). "Will auld customs soon be forgot?". The Guardian'. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  19. "Lecturers compared to lying tribesmen", The Times, 17 January 2004
  20. Heine, Bernd, The Mountain People: Some Notes on the Ik of North-Eastern Uganda. Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 55, No. 1, 1985, pp. 3–16.
  21. Knight, John, 'The Mountain People' as tribal mirror. Anthropology Today, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1994.
  22. Stokeld, Nick: "I want to Buy Brian a Bike", The Saint, 10 Nov 2007.
  23. "Honorary Degrees 27th November 2008 (pm)" (Press release). University of St Andrews. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  24. "No. 61608". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2016. p. B9.
  25. "Fellows > Dr Brian Lang CBE, FRSE". Royal Society of Edinburgh. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
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