Clustering of absorption line systems
  Absorption line systems are luminosity unbiased tracers of the spatial distribution of baryons over most of the history of the Universe. I review the importance of studying the clustering properties of the absorbers and the impact of VLT in this subject. The primary aim of the project is to track the evolution of the structures of the Universe back in time. 
Patrick Petitjean (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris)