BOZEMAN -- Bozeman science and nature writer David Quammen has been selected by Montana State University as its third Wallace Stegner Distinguished Professor of Western American Studies.

The selection was announced by philosophy professor Gordon Brittan at the annual Stegner lecture this week.

''David speaks to the issues of our day in an eloquent way,'' said Brett Walker, associate professor of history and chairman of MSU's history and philosophy department. He called Quammen a ''graceful writer'' who has ''a good nose for the important topics of our time.''

Quammen, 58, author of ''The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution,'' said he was delighted and flattered by the opportunity.

''I have huge respect for the writer, conservationist and teacher that Stegner was,'' Quammen said. ''Stegner has been important to me as a novelist and nonfiction writer.''

Stegner, who won the Pulitzer Prize for ''Angle of Repose'' in 1972, is known as a writer with great insight about the West. He founded Stanford University's creative writing program and was a mentor to many famous American writers.

Quammen will work with graduate students in the College of Letters and Science, Walker said. MSU has 25 history graduate students, including nine in its new history Ph.D. program, which emphasizes Montana and the American West, environmental history and the history of science and technology.

During the one-year, renewable appointment, Quammen will receive a full professor's pay.