Announcing the Natural Philosophy Research Institute
CNPS is becoming NPRI.
The Chappell Natural Philosophy Society is becoming the Natural Philosophy Research Institute: the same people and the same open inquiry, now with a peer-reviewed journal, a rebuilt wiki, open research projects and the Dissident Science channel. Members carry over as NPRI’s founding members, and the move completes in January 2027.
1,600+
Papers archived
30+
Years of open inquiry
313
Live sessions held
11,691
Wiki pages
The transition, explained
Why CNPS is becoming a research institute
For more than thirty years this community has met, debated and published as a society. But a society that mostly talks to itself does not reach the public, and its papers are reviewed by the same small circle. The Natural Philosophy Research Institute keeps everything that worked and adds what was missing: a peer-reviewed journal with outside reviewers, a public channel big enough to be heard, a home for the archives of researchers we have lost, and the nonprofit standing to attract donors and grants.
Three missions
- Member servicesA journal to publish in, Saturday sessions to present at, projects to join, and a member directory linked to the wiki.
- Digital perpetuityDigitizing and preserving the papers and journals of independent researchers so their work is never lost.
- Awareness mediaThe Dissident Science channel and podcast, taking these questions to a general audience.
What stays the same
- CNPS members become NPRI’s founding members. Your membership carries straight over.
- The weekly live discussions and the YouTube archive.
- The forum, the proceedings and the paper archive.
- The same people, the same independence, the same open questions.
The timeline
- Done · October 2026 NPRI incorporated The Natural Philosophy Research Institute is registered as a Florida corporation with its own federal EIN. Officers: David de Hilster (president), Greg Volk (vice president), John Reed (treasurer) and Matthew Stroul (chairman and executive director).
- Under way 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status NPRI is applying for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Once approved, it applies back to our incorporation — so gifts made now will be covered too.
- Saturdays through December Transition sessions Saturday morning sessions walk members through the move to NPRI and get everyone onboard, starting with a two-hour transition presentation on Saturday, November 14.
- January 2027 Fully NPRI CNPS members and assets become NPRI’s founding base, the CNPS name is retired, and naturalphilosophy.org becomes the Institute’s home.
What’s new in NPRI
Publish, build, broadcast, present
Six programs, one path: from a viewer’s first question to a published, presented paper.
Natural Philosophy Journal
Open-access and peer-reviewed by vetted reviewers from outside our own circle. Physics, cosmology and the foundations of science, including work that challenges established theory. Papers are prepared with our LaTeX template.
Natural Philosophy Wiki
Redesigned and greatly expanded: thousands of scientists, papers, books and topic articles from the independent-science community.
Projects
Open research and outreach projects that members and the public can propose, join and follow from idea to result.
Dissident Science
Our video podcast and channel, interviewing researchers behind alternative theories. Run as an NPRI project to bring a wide audience to NPRI scientists.
Saturday Morning Sessions
The weekly Saturday sessions continue as they have for years. Researchers present live and take questions, and authors in the Natural Philosophy Journal present their papers here.
Membership
CNPS members become NPRI founding members. Members present, publish, join projects and keep independent research funded. Podcast subscribers who want to take part start here.
Dissident Science · an NPRI project
Taking independent science to a wide audience
Nothing is sacred. Everything important is examined. David de Hilster started Dissident Science in 2017; it now has more than 5,000 subscribers. With co-host and producer Matthew Stroul it becomes NPRI’s podcast, interviewing the researchers behind alternative theories and making their arguments clear to everyone. Growing it is now an NPRI project. Our early goal is 500,000 subscribers in two years, and the plan is being worked out in the open, where you can follow and help.
- 1WatchA clip, an episode or a live debate brings a new viewer in.
- 2SubscribeSubscribers to the podcast follow the questions week to week.
- 3Support & joinSubscribers back the channel on Patreon, and those who want to take part become NPRI members.
- 4Publish & presentMembers publish in the journal and present on Saturday mornings — giving NPRI scientists the audience their work deserves.
Weekly on YouTube
On the screen
2026 Fundraiser · Building NPRI
Help build the Institute
NPRI runs on members and donors — no institutions, no gatekeepers. NPRI is applying for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Once approved, it applies back to our incorporation — so gifts made now will be covered too. Your support keeps the journal, the wiki and the conversations free for everyone.