// helper methods

    public static void Merge(this IBlackboard board1, IBlackboard board2)
    {
        foreach (var var2 in board2.variables)
        {
            if (!board1.variables.ContainsKey(var2.Key))
            {
                // Debug.Log("Adding: " + val.dataName + " " + val.objectValue);
                board1.AddVariable(var2.Key, var2.Value.varType);
                board1.SetValue(var2.Key, var2.Value.value);
            }
        }
    }