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Viewpoints: Experts comment on EU's Nobel award The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the European Union for its work in promoting peace and stability in Europe. The award recognised the success of Franco-German reconciliation, the EU's eastward enlargement and peace efforts in the Balkans. Here several experts on European affairs give their opinions on the award, which comes at a time of tension amid the eurozone debt crisis. Continue reading the main story “ The EU needs to get back to its core business - trade and promoting reconciliation” Heather Grabbe, Open Society Institute, Brussels This is a big confidence boost for the EU at a moment when confidence is at a very low ebb because of the euro crisis. It's an important reminder that European integration is a peace project. In the Balkans reconciliation is all under the EU's auspices - were it not for the EU they wouldn't be where they are today. The EU is the only b...

Viewpoint: More women needed in technology By Belinda Parmar Author of Little Miss Geek Lost in stereotypes in this image from her book, Belinda Parmar wants a change in attitude towards women in technology Walk into most tech companies and you'll be greeted by the same picture - a room made up entirely of men. You can practically smell the testosterone. Continue reading the main story The technology industry is still struggling to shake off the image of the male, pizza-guzzling, antisocial nerd - a perception that initiatives like this month's Ada Lovelace day - which celebrates the role of women in technology - and Lady Geek's "Little Miss Geek" campaign, are striving to change. There is no doubt that tech is overwhelmingly male. Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the US economy, they hold less than 25% of jobs in the science and technology sector, according to a ...