Mitsuru's PhD research focuses on practice of science communication in Japan. It aims to investigate how differently local practitioners of science communication reflect on the meaning and value of their science communication practice in their own local communities.

Drawing on the empirical data collected from one of national science communication programmes run in various local communities across Japan, the research explores the diversity of ways to make sense of "science communication" from local practitioners' and local residents' perspectives, depending on their own values and the communities' socio-economic conditions.