Honorary degree for author Alexander McCall Smith

WRITER Alexander McCall Smith is to receive an honorary degree from Scotland’s oldest university.

44 Scotland Street author to receive degree from St Andrews University. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

The Edinburgh-based creator of the The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and 44 Scotland Street, a daily serial for The Scotsman, is among figures from the world of science, literature and the internet are to be honoured by the University of St Andrews next month.

McCall Smith graduated from Edinburgh University after studying law. He soon taught at Queen’s University Belfast, and while teaching there he entered a literary competition and won in the children’s category.

He was Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and is now Emeritus Professor at its School of Law.

Also being honoured by St Andrews is graphic novelist and screenwriter Neil Gaiman, and Google’s chief internet evangelist Dr Vinton Cerf.

Twelve distinguished individuals will be honoured during the university’s summer graduation ceremonies to be held from June 23-26 at the Younger Hall.

They are:

• Mr Neil Gaiman Novelist, graphic novelist and screenwriter.

• Professor Robert Keohane Professor of Public and International Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University.

• Professor Nannerl Keohane Political philosopher, formerly President of Wellesley College and of Duke University.

• Professor Herbert Roesky Professor Emeritus, University of Göttingen, Germany (Institute of Inorganic Chemistry).

• Dr Vinton Cerf Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google.

• Mr Anselm Kiefer Artist.

• Dr Nicholas Penny Director, The National Gallery, London.

• Dr Alice-Mary Talbot Director Emerita of Byzantine Studies, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington DC.

• Sir John Skehel Vice President and Biological Secretary of the Royal Society and Visiting Scientist at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London.

• Professor Robert Webster Rose Marie Thomas Chair, Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Tennessee.

• Professor Jean Lave Professor Emerita, Geography, Anthropology and Education, University of California, Berkeley.

• Professor Alexander McCall Smith, Author.

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