a scientific question. Don't ask me that." And then the student goes to the science department and they tell him, "That's a religious question. Don't ask me that." In 1998 Sloan read an article by mathematician, philosopher and intelligent design advocate William Dembski and was impressed. Sloan invited Dembski to the IFL, whose director Michael Beaty was also impressed by his work and credentials. They learned of Dembski's wish to establish an intelligent design research center at a major US university, which was part of the intelligent design wedge strategy. As a result in October 1999, Baylor's Michael Polanyi Center was quietly established separately from the IFL and without oversight from any existing academic structures. Dembski's salary was funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation via the Discovery Institute. Dembski named it after the Hungarian scientist and philosopher of science Michael Polanyi (1891–1976). Dembski appointed Bruce L. Gordon as his deputy. Gordon was also appointed as a non-tenured associate research professor in the institute. The MPC website stated: The Michael Polanyi Center (MPC) is a cross-disciplinary research and educational initiative focused on advancing the understanding of science. It has a fourfold purpose: (1) to support and pursue research in the history and conceptual foundations of the natural and social sciences; (2) to study the impact of contemporary science on the humanities and the arts; (3) to be an active participant in the growing dialogue between science and religion; and (4) to pursue the mathematical development and empirical application of design-theoretic concepts in the natural sciences. "The Nature of Nature" Between April 12 and April 15, 2000 the Center held a conference entitled "The Nature of Nature," jointly sponsored by the Discovery Institute and the John Templeton Foundation. Critics of intelligent design within the scientific community were split as to whether to attend. They thought that the conference might give ID more academic credibility, something it lacks, and that it would be used for propaganda by the ID movement and the Christian press. Nevertheless, the conference attracted a variety of scientists, theologians and philosophers, including Alan Guth, John Searle, Christian de Duve, and Nobel Prize-winner Steven Weinberg. The conference brought things to a head and, as a result, on April 18 the Faculty Senate voted 27–2 for the center to be abolished. This call was rejected by Sloan on April 20, who commented: I believe there are matters of