As Bakker’s Prince of Nothing-verse books say (which I have lost the last 5 days or so to reading), “Measure is unceasing”.
These first tests, while perhaps the most valuable (as the initial observations of anything usually are), are—hopefully—only the first; if your donations do not change whether the first ones happen, they may change whether the second batch does.
(Even in the extraordinarily unlikely scenario where all the techniques produce perfect preservation according to the first test, one would still want periodic tests to check that the techniques are still being done right.)
That doesn’t answer the question of whether they need the money now or in two weeks. I dislike exposing myself to unnecessary financial risk, particularly at the beginning of a semester and when my work is undergoing layoffs (not that I consider either particularly likely to be a problem, but the risk is distinctly elevated right now and my reserves are lower than I like).
That doesn’t answer the question of whether they need the money now or in two weeks.
Oh, I didn’t realize you really meant now or a few weeks. As far as I know, there is no significant reason why donating now would be better than in a few weeks, aside from looking good here and maybe encouraging some other people to donate (for which a public commitment ought to be enough).
As Bakker’s Prince of Nothing-verse books say (which I have lost the last 5 days or so to reading), “Measure is unceasing”.
These first tests, while perhaps the most valuable (as the initial observations of anything usually are), are—hopefully—only the first; if your donations do not change whether the first ones happen, they may change whether the second batch does.
(Even in the extraordinarily unlikely scenario where all the techniques produce perfect preservation according to the first test, one would still want periodic tests to check that the techniques are still being done right.)
That doesn’t answer the question of whether they need the money now or in two weeks. I dislike exposing myself to unnecessary financial risk, particularly at the beginning of a semester and when my work is undergoing layoffs (not that I consider either particularly likely to be a problem, but the risk is distinctly elevated right now and my reserves are lower than I like).
Oh, I didn’t realize you really meant now or a few weeks. As far as I know, there is no significant reason why donating now would be better than in a few weeks, aside from looking good here and maybe encouraging some other people to donate (for which a public commitment ought to be enough).